SPAARO

The small platform for autonomous aerial research operations (SPAARO) is a autonomous technology system developed by Virginia Tech's Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems (VaCAS). Designed by Justin Murtha, the SPAARO was designed with the idea of providing a platform for experimentation in coming years for VaCAS, to replace the Sig® Rascal airframes they had been using.

Specifications
The SPAARO was designed with the idea of durability, and as such, has redundancy built into it. There are multiple elevators, ailerons, and rudders, to withstand repeated testing over many years and many failed flights. Should a part stop working in flight, there are other pieces that perform the exact same function, resulting in a more stable testing platform. As Craig Woolsey of the Nonlinear Systems Lab said, “If one rudder fails, we still have directional control."

Another safety feature embedded in the SPAARO is the idea to use an electric starter for the motor. According to the military and VaCAS's own research, 40% of all unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) losses result from a loss of propulsion. By using an electric starter, if the SPAARO fails in midair, there is opportunity to restart the engine and save the SPAARO from an unpowered crash landing.

SPAARO is also outfitted with an autopilot to act, again, as a failsafe against a possible loss of transmission to the UAV. If transmission is lost, the SPAARO's autopilot is programmed to return to its starting flight location and to fly in circles above. The SPAARO will continue to fly in this manner until a human operator re-assumes command over the vehicle.

The SPAARO has hundreds of applications, and as such, is open to researchers from all fields to use. In particular, a student, Mark Monda is using the SPAARO is develop a method by which a UAV can see and avoid other aircraft with data from images and an awareness of altitude and geometry. The goal Monda has in mind is to give UAVs situational awareness, thereby making them safer to fly in both manned and unmanned airspace. SPAARO has also be equipped with a camera designed to survey the land below the UAV, to help build satellite maps and maintain tabs on geographical features such as rivers or debris. Yet another application of the SPAARO is that it can be equipped with various sensors that will test the air for pollution or measure airspeed and aerodynamic angles. Due to its ten pound payload, the SPAARO can be outfitted for nearly any research purpose, both in furthering UAV technology and in other fields.

The UAV is currently being used for aerospace courses, to help teach students about controlling aircraft in unstable conditions. Due to its built-in redundancies, the SPAARO is ideal for aerospace programs. The SPAARO also represents a shift from full-size aircraft to smaller, cheaper aircraft in aerospace programs.