Information-measuring system of pyrometric type for small-sized unmanned aircraft

A new trend of science and technology is now rapidly developing both in Russia and abroad – the development of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles. The key system of on-board control equipment (avionics) of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is the orientation system for determining UAV attitude relative to reference system. In small-size UAV, we can meet the application of strapdown attitude reference systems, magnetometric, pyrometric, video systems, etc. Rapid development of mini- and micro-UAVs requires the development of information-measuring systems (operating on different physical principles) in order to determine UAV attitude parameters in flight. With UAV mass and wingspan reduction, there are growing requirements for these systems, concerning the accuracy of positioning parameters and more compact dimensions. Manufacturing of most information-measuring and control systems of manned aircraft and heavy UAVs rely on traditionally used gyroscopes and accelerometers. They are complex fine-mechanics instruments of considerable power consumption, rather large size, weight and high cost. A significant improvement of the accuracy in UAV angular coordinates determination is achieved by integrating orientation systems of various types. The use of GPS / GLONASS signals also improves the accuracy and reliability of determining UAV angular coordinates and supplies the additional function of measuring its geographical coordinates.