Autonomous Drone for Surveillance and Mapping

The demand for advanced, autonomous technologies in aerial mapping and surveillance has grown exponentially across industries such as environmental monitoring, urban planning, and security. This work introduces the development of an autonomous drone system designed to perform real-time mapping and surveillance with high efficiency. The proposed system integrates advanced navigation algorithms, precision sensors, and robust data processing capabilities, enabling it to operate with minimal human intervention. Notable features include GPS-based autonomous flight planning, real-time obstacle detection and avoidance, and high-resolution data capture through integrated LiDAR and RGB cameras. Additionally, 3D mapping via photogrammetry generates precise terrain models from captured video footage, enhancing the system’s mapping accuracy. The drone’s onboard processing unit allows for real-time data processing and live streaming to a ground station, enabling remote monitoring without any latency. Field trials and initial tests have confirmed the drone’s ability to navigate diverse terrains, autonomously adjust flight paths, and provide high-accuracy, real-time mapping updates. This system offers a scalable, cost-effective alternative to traditional, laborintensive aerial surveillance methods, providing enhanced efficiency and precision. This work aims to advance the research in autonomous aerial systems by tackling significant challenges, including real-time obstacle avoidance, data processing efficiency, and system reliability in varying environments. Future improvements may focus on enhancing battery life, increasing flight endurance, and enabling multi-drone coordination to extend the scope and capabilities of the system across a wider range of applications.