(Final Weeks) ENDGAME
- Ian Willey
- Apr 29, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: May 1, 2019
The Spring 2019 semester is coming to an end. So much has been accomplished by the AT-419 Capstone class. There were many successful flight operations that produced plenty of learning opportunities. Many difficulties that would be found in industry were recreated throughout the course. Working together as a team, managing time available against weather considerations to conduct data collection, and producing supplemental documentation to support operations to name a few. During any evaluated task, it is a good idea to go back to the beginning and ask yourself, "What is being requested or asked of me?". Doing this, keeps you focused on result producing tasks and limits "straying from the center-line" that distractions and side activities ultimately produce. In the case of AT 419, I have listed the course objectives below.
AT-419 course objectives posted by the instructor.
The ability to think of UAS data collection in a geospatial manner
The ability to critically think of what type of platform is best suited for the given task/goal, and how best to collect that data with the proper sensor.
The ability to create detailed field notes for later use in UAS flight records and maintenance
The ability to create and maintain UAS flight and maintenance records.
·How to survey Ground Control Points (GCP) using current GPS technology, as well understanding the limits of GCP points
·Construction of technical style reports in a web or blog based format.
·Construction of instructional materials, in both written and video format
Assigned roles and duties
In my opinion, collective these goals were met. The class was divided into working groups for the semester, This made it possible for assigned roles to be developed and utilized for a more efficient operation. However, this also made exposure to roles that were not assigned almost impossible. During this semester, most work was done within the working groups and outside of class time. For example, during the second half when flights were taking place, class time was dedicated to the flight. Which means all the planning and preparation needed to be done before flight day and outside of class time. For me personally, I was only exposed to about 3 of the main course objectives. This does not mean my roles were not important. The flights would not have been able to be performed, or performed as safely without my input. My primary roles throughout the course were:
Aircraft and payload operation and integration.
Training
Safety and situational awareness analysis
Maintenance records custodian
(Additional) Display case development lead
Many of the other roles that were assigned to other students I assisted with where I could. For example, in the beginning I assisted Kyle S. and Thomas G. with their duties and sent multiple reminders and advice on planning and progressing the data collection plan. Some advice was taken and other times they were reluctant to to the work that was necessary at the time. Other roles, i had almost zero impact on. Data analysis for example is still very alien to me and will take some work in the future to develop a better understanding for applying and manipulating a data set to "tell the story of the data".
A major issue i had during the progression of the course in completing my assigned roles was Payload Integration, The lead on this role refused to work as a member of the team and conduction all the integration on his own, and outside of class. Working with difficult people is part of life and will come up again for me in industry, I am sure of that. I will continue to work tirelessly at finding better ways to communicate my expectations to those who are working beside me on projects. I hope that he matures as a person and learns some interpersonal skills to use in his future endeavors. Because of his unwillingness to cooperate, I failed at meeting my person academic goal for having a better understanding of payload integration techniques.
Display Case
The final goal is to fill a 49 inch by 35 inch display case at the Purdue Niswonger building, outside the UAS instructors office. This project was presented early on in the semester, so it has always been in the back of our minds. Throughout the semester, all the members of the class that took pictures or created products posted them into a shared drive using Google Docs. Initial brainstorming for the display case took place during the Poster Symposium but nothing really came out of what the general idea for the case was going to be. After a great deal of push from higher to get this moving, the original team member in charge was fired, and I took the reins.
The display case needed to be finished prior to the end of the semester, which gave me about two weeks to get working on it. The initial layout, first picture below, called for class photos to be display on the left while the two primary UAV's would go on the right.
With the initial layout in place, I asked Ryan F. and Evan H. to work on filling the right half of the slide that would be the display case with "interest catching" statistics from the two aircraft. My idea was to list things like, how fast can it go, how high can it fly, or how long can it fly. Things that would catch the eye of the passer by and still inform about the two systems. The second draft, pictured below, is the product of what my classmates gave me. I liked the large pictures as I think that would grab attention, but a lot of more work is needed for it to be considered a academic display.
More modifications were made as the project progressed. The layout for the right side changed from vertical to horizontal and some graphics were added to emphasize the better points for each system. Highlights included flight time, performance and payloads. At the same time, the left side of the display case started to come take direction. The idea was to break the course up into four parts.
The development of the original idea and direction course was going to take.
The second part will focus on taking the concept and developing a plan to put it into practice.
The third section will showcase the data collection process through mission plans an flight planning.
The final segment on the left side will display the products that were developed from the data collection.
Below is the final draft of what is to be displayed within the case. I will use a plotter printer to print this off as one piece and put in place. Some minor modifications will need to be made to trim off the edges so it will fit cleanly into its place. This poster showcase the activities that the Spring 419 class has done throughout the semester. My only critique from the final product is that captions on the pictures would help explain what is happening in the picture. As the inspiration quote from business goes, "sometimes done is better than perfect". That is the case for the poster as time has come to an end. Hopefully when the next class comes through in the Fall to take my place, they see this poster and take the basic principles of design and layout from it and develop their own. Sometimes a little inspiration is all it takes.
ENDGAME
For the last week of class time, the class was able to squeeze out one more flight. This flight was to collect data at the Purdue Wildlife Area. The flight went well and Evan H. was able to get over 1000 images processed. This mission was planned at the last minute and it goes to show the success of this group to be able to get out and get the flight accomplished safely and with all the required equipment ready to go. The picture below is most of the class around the C-Astral Bramor UAV at the launch site with Dr, Hupy, the class instructor, out front. This mission was a success and the aircraft returned to the earth, by parachute, safely. To my fellow classmates, I say congratulations on a successful semester, best of luck in your future endeavors, and Boiler up!
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