Flying surveillance robots with Fraunhofer IMS provided 3D sensors

Fraunhofer IMS researchers have developed special 3D sensors for aerial surveillance drones to ensure flawless aerobatics and prevent collisions. These unmanned aerial vehicles are a kind of mini-helicopter, with a wingspan of around two meters, and are a higly useful tool for police and crisis managers. They have a propeller on each of their two variable-geometry side wings, which lends them rapid and precise maneuverability. One example, in operation over a soccer field, their cameras and sensors capture urgently-needed data and transmit them to the control center. The info provided allows fast decision-making, while over a dozen robots work autonomously and never collide. IMS's distance sensor offers significant advantages over radar, which measures distances using reflected echoes. The drones are capable of identifying even small objects at ranges of up to 7.5 meters, and then transmitting the information at a rate of 12 images per second.