Design of an Observer Nano UAV for Post-Earthquake Situation

The objective of this study is to design a nano unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with four motors, a camera and a gas sensor, which will enable it to observe structures that are currently inaccessible to search and rescue teams, and which could be used in post-earthquake studies. The nano UAV design comprises three stages: mechanical design, electrical hardware and integrated control of the system. In the mechanical design of the UAV, which is constructed with four engines in a Quad X frame structure, a toroidal propeller capable of silent flight in accordance with disaster conditions is employed. In selecting the electrical equipment, components such as sensors and cameras were chosen on the basis of their suitability for the weight and function of the nano UAV. The integrated system control was performed with a PID controller-based algorithm. Subsequently, field trials of the nano UAV were conducted to evaluate the flight endurance of the entire system, the impact of toroidal propeller configuration on flight performance and image quality. The findings led to the development of a nano UAV designed for observation, control and intervention in post-earthquake search and rescue operations, particularly during the initial four-day period.