Course detail

Unmanned Aircraft

FEKT-BPC-BPLAcad. year: 2024/2025

The course covers various aspects and applications of unmanned aerial vehicles, providing a set of activities that range from gaining fundamental theoretical knowledge to practising flight formation skills. The theory includes, among other items, key information on UAVs and the related legislation. In this context, the students will learn how to register a drone operator, and they will take an exam in the theoretical topics to qualify for UAV operation in the “Open” mode. The instruction then involves also preparing the participants to earn “Specific” class operating qualifications; discussing pre-flight tasks; simulating drone flights; and outlining the applicability of UAVs. The practical segment of the course focuses on the basic steps that facilitate setting up the flight paths, compiling the communications network to transmit the telemetry data, practising the formations, and utilizing UAVs in real-world applications. The practicals enable the participants to gradually gather the hands-on experience that will later allow them to use drones professionally.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

Students wishing to enroll are required to have a high school level insight into the relevant fields and to understand the problems presented within the compulsory courses that are delivered during the first year of study at the faculty. Before joining the laboratory practicals, a student has to acquire applicable electrical safety competences as set out by both Decree 50/1978 Coll., Of Professional Qualification in Electrical Engineering, and a relevant regulation issued by the faculty (Dean‘s decree); updated information on the safety briefing can be obtained from the course instructor.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The total score achievable is 100 points; of these, max 30 can be obtained in the practicals and max 70 at the final exam. To complete the course, the students must earn credit and pass the final exam. The overall pass limit for the entire course equals 50 points.
Attending the lectures is optional but recommended. The practicals are mandatory, and the credit is granted depending on a student’s assessment during the semester. Participants who missed a class can attend it at another time if the instructor agrees and their absence has been excused.

Aims

Introduce the students to the state of the art in unmanned aerial vehicles. Acquaint the students with basic properties and characteristics of drones to train planning and performing UAV flights.
Upon completion of the course, the students will: know the basics of UAVs; understand the functioning of the relevant hardware and software; be able to set up simulated and real-world missions and to integrate drones into practical projects, such as industrial inspection and photogrammetry; have mastered the principal legislation that governs drone flying within the EU.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

MACENSKI, Steven, Tully FOOTE, Brian GERKEY, Chris LALANCETTE a William WOODALL, 2022. Robot Operating System 2: Design, architecture, and uses in the wild. Science Robotics [online]. [vid. 2023-01-04]. Dostupné z: doi:10.1126/scirobotics.abm6074
PYO, Yoonseok, HANCHEOL CHO, LEON JUNG a Darby LIM, 2017. ROS Robot Programming [online]. B.m.: ROBOTIS. ISBN 979-11-962307-1-5. Dostupné z: http://community.robotsource.org/t/download-the-ros-robot-programming-book-for-free/51
ÚŘAD PRO CIVILNÍ LETECTVÍ, 2022. BEZPILOTNÍ SYSTÉMY: Školicí materiál ÚCL ve formě FAQ - nejčastěji kladených dotazů k problematice [online]. 2022. B.m.: Úřad pro civilní letectví. [vid. 2023-01-19]. Dostupné z: https://www.caa.cz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/FAQ-DRONES_CS.pdf?cb=9fed2ca656703560382d2ecaafee3930

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-AMT Bachelor's 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme BPC-MET Bachelor's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BPC-TLI Bachelor's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1) Legislation for unmanned flying within the EU.

2) Basic terminology in the field of unmanned aircraft.

3) Pre-flight preparation, scenarios and procedures for authorization to fly in the Specific category.

4) Control electronics, navigation systems, telemetry and communication.

5) Sensors for drones.

6) Mathematical model and stabilization of the multicopter.

7) Simulation of unmanned aircraft and connection with robotic systems (ROS).

8) ROS, Gazebo - knowledge expansion.

9) Drone swarm flying and swarm control SW.

10) Aerial photography and photogrammetry.

11) Practical applications with drones.

  

Computer-assisted exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1) Legislation for unmanned flying within the EU.

2) Basic terminology in the field of unmanned aircraft.

3) Pre-flight preparation, scenarios and procedures for authorization to fly in the Specific category.

4) Control electronics, navigation systems, telemetry and communication.

5) Sensors for drones.

6) Mathematical model and stabilization of the multicopter.

7) Simulation of unmanned aircraft and connection with robotic systems (ROS).

8) ROS, Gazebo - knowledge expansion.

9) Drone swarm flying and swarm control SW.

10) Aerial photography and photogrammetry.

11) Practical applications with drones.