Summary
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are gaining popularity in various industrial applications, particularly in agriculture. Monitoring their condition during flight is crucial, with special attention to the propulsion system. A failure in this system can halt the aircraft mid-flight, potentially leading to disaster. In a recent study, researchers attempted to detect and identify damage in a DC motor within an octocopter. They achieved this by analyzing voltage signals recorded by piezoelectric sensors placed on each arm during tethered flight. The simulated damage involved altering the PWM pulse width from 20% to 80% in 20% increments. By isolating non-linear features sensitive to changes in periodicity, the researchers not only detected damage but also determined its severity. The findings from this study will contribute to the development of an effective aircraft control algorithm. Such an algorithm is essential for real-time monitoring of the propulsion system, ensuring safe operation even in the event of failure.
