This paper presents a mathematical model for a model-scale unmanned helicopter robot, with emphasis on the dynamics of the flybar. The interaction between the flybar and the main rotor blade is explained in detail; it is shown how the flapping of the flybar increases the stability of the helicopter robot as well as assists in its actuation. The model helicopter has a fast time-domain response d...

This report contains the results of a full-scale experimental feasibility study of rotor isolation employing the Dynamic Antiresonant Vibration Isolator (DAVI) . The full-scale experiments were performed on a UH-2 helicopter fuselage isolated from a simulated rotor and transmission. Tests were conducted for three directions of vibratory input at the hub on the nonisolated vehicle and then compa...

This paper presents the design of an autonomous unmanned helicopter system for low-altitude remote sensing. The proposed concepts and methods are generic and not limited to a specific helicopter. The development was driven by the need for a dependable, modular, and affordable system with sufficient payload capacity suitable for both research and real-world deployment. The helicopter can be safe...

MARVIN is an autonomously flying robot based on a model helicopter. It is designed for search and reconnaissance operations in an unknown environment with possible treats such as fires, water fountains, and smoke. The overall system consists of the helicopter with a microcontroller based on-board computer and a ground station computer. While flight control is done on-board, mission planning, hu...

OBJECTIVE There has been a significant proliferation of medical helicopters and medical helicopter operations in the United States over the last decade. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the proliferation of medical helicopter operations in the United States was associated with a subsequent increase in the number of accidents METHODS We used univariate descriptive analysis of...

To collect the information on devastated districts, it is effective to use helicopters. However, the operation using manned helicopters costs a lot. It is expected that the use of unmanned helicopters could reduce the cost of these tasks. It is known to be more difficult to operate unmanned helicopters remotely than to operate manned helicopters. The reason is that an operator cannot know the a...

This article proposes simultaneous helicopter and control system design and illustrates its advantages. First, the traditional, sequential approach in which a satisfactory control system is designed for a given helicopter is applied. Then, a novel approach, in which the helicopter and control system are simultaneously designed, is applied to redesign the entire system. This redesign process inv...

OBJECTIVES This study was undertaken to assess concurrent mechanical stresses from shock, vibration, and noise to which a critically ill neonate is exposed during emergency transfer. METHODS For neonates transported by a French specialized emergency medical service, we measured and analyzed 27 physical parameters recorded during typical transport by ambulance and by helicopter. The noninvasiv...

This paper discusses an Unmanned Aviation Vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing system for unpaved road condition assessment. The reported work has been part of the project “Monitoring of Unpaved Road Condition using Remote Sensing and Other Technology”, sponsored by the US Department of Transportation. The system is based on a low cost model helicopter equipped with a GPS/IMU and a geomagnetic se...

This paper presents an algorithm for velocity-aided attitude estimation for helicopter aircraft using a microelectromechanical system inertial-measurement unit. In general, high- performance gyroscopes are used for estimating the attitude of a helicopter, but this type of sensor is very expensive. When designing a cost-effective attitude system, attitude can be estimated by fusing a low cost ac...