Dynamic visual sensing based on MPC controlled UAVs

This article considers the establishment of a dynamic visual sensor from monocular cameras to enable a reconfigurable environmental perception. The cameras are mounted on Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAV) which are coordinated by a Model Predictive Control (MPC) scheme to retain overlapping field of views and form a global sensor with varying baseline. The specific merits of the proposed scheme are: a) the ability to form a configurable stereo rig, according to the application needs, and b) the simple design, the reduction of the payload and the corresponding cost. Moreover, the proposed configurable sensor provides a glpobal 3D reconstruction of the surrounding area, based on a modified Structure from Motion approach. The efficiency of the suggested flexible visual sensor is demonstrated in simulation results that highlight the novel concept of cooperative flying cameras and their 3D reconstruction capabilitiesCollaborative Aerial Robotic Workers, AEROWORK