MAV-VUE - Micro Aerial Vehicle Visualization of Unexplored Environments

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), such as the military's Predator drone, currently require sophisticated and intensive training to operate. For example, an Air Force Predator UAV requires two full-time operators, both certified pilots who have attended a 10-week training course. Advances in UAV design have led to personal, micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) which can range in size from a fly to a basketball. MAVs are even more difficult to fly than their larger cousins due to a lack of conventional control surfaces like rudders and flaps. These MAVs are intended for use by soldiers or other highly trained first-responder personnel for real-time scouting and exploration. It is therefore impractical to demand the additional specialized training required to operate such a complex craft with a traditional joystick or remote control.

Using as iPhone, MAV-VUE allows users to control a MAV via high-level waypoint commands, or through fine-grained nudge controls. This innovation, which can work on any hand-held device, can be extended to operate any type of robot such as a bomb disposal robot.