FPGA based Real Time Obstacle Detection and Alert System for Drones and Small Aircrafts

This paper introduces a real-time obstacle detection and alerting system for drones and small aircraft that is implemented on an FPGA and ultrasonic sensor. The purpose of the proposed system is to enhance the safety of flight by ensuring low latency and high reliability for obstacle detection in the vicinity. The ultrasonic sensor constantly sends an ultrasonic wave, measures the echo time of objects in the vicinity, and measures the distance using the trigger– echo principle. The FPGA continuously processes the echo time, calculates the distance, compares with the threshold, and generates alerts. The FPGA's parallel processing capability makes it quicker to respond and more capable in real time than traditional microcontrollerbased systems. The system alerts the operator by giving visual and audible alarms (using LEDs and buzzers) when an obstacle is detected within a set distance. Experimental results show the successful measurement of the short-range distances, the speed of response, and the reliable detection of the obstacles with a minimum error. The proposed design can be used in UAV safety applications and real-time embedded systems in a cost-efficient, energy-efficient, scalable way.