Tests conducted in the labratory could verify the VSS2.0 sensor hardware and basic functionality; calibation is in the process; measures show a good linearity with however added noise which has to be suppressed in order to employ the new sensor hardware for actual uses.

More tests have been conducted with an imprioved version of ViSSee's BlurMeter algorithm implemented in an iPhone; this new hardware gives still better results as the first test wich where performed months ago using an off the shelf camera system.

During the last projects monts, VSS2.0 sensor will be further calibrated and improved in order to obtain usable measures.
Expriment will be further perfomed using the Vicon optical tracking system on both the VSS2.0 sensor and the iPHone reduced performance version (as backup) in order to complete the ECHORD experiment.

Development progressed after the integration of the complete hardware/software chain; tests are conducted in the labratory in order to functionality verify and for characterize the new speed sensor. Functionality of the single hardware and software functional blocks are being verified under normal working conditions (first separately, and then combined in a single hardware/softwre block). The first results are in line with expectations given by modeling and simulations.

The current activity is focussed in the characterization of the speed estimations; raw numbers coming out of the sensor must be mapped in terms of speed in cm/s. Precision and accuracy will be measured and checked gainst the theoretically expected results.

Work has progressed in the preparaztion of the FlyBox for the experiment (software adaptation) and in the optimization of the control software on the remote platform (tablet). More experiments have also been conduceted witht the reduced accuracy and precision speed sensor (based on a commercially available camera).

The project progressed in the labratory testing of the new speed sensor, basic electronics tests have shown that the hardware has no design and  fabrication errors. Tests of the digital part (high speed digital electronics) is also complete. The high speed digital images acquisition and pre-processing system is running as expected. The second part of the speed estimation algorithm is a lower performance task since it works on a drastically reduced data rate; therefore it has been delegated to a second 32 bit RISC CPU, and is in the verification and test phase.

The FlyBox software has been further developed, errors have been fixed and the communication protocol with thte speed sensor has been improved to render it more robust.

A second preliminary experiment with a reduced accuracy and precision speed sensor (based on a commercially available camera has been conducted and ha confirmed the limitiations of this sensor which has a negative influence on the copter overall stability.

The experiment is completing task 2 (sensor prototyping, testing and development of helicopter missing functionality), and entering task 3 (system integration and field-test).
The new speed sensor hardware has been designed and fabricated, and is curretly entring
the test phase.
Meanwhile, a preliminary version of the collision avoidance functionality (software)
has been developed and tested with the help of a reduced capability "off-the-shelf hardware and software from ViSSee.
A fist laboratory test session has been conducted on a "rusty pipe" and has given good
indications on the system capabilities and limitations.

The experiment has just entered task 2 (Sensor prototyping, testing and development of missing functionality):

Design of the new VSS sensor hardware is ongoing. Analogue and digital parts are in development phase.
Physical hardware availability is planned by the second half of October.
Lab test will start as soon as the hardware is fabricated and electrically tested.
Tests on MAV will follow later on.

The measurement algorithm for the MAV has been prepared and characterized by ViSSee and SkyBotix.
ViSSee and Skybotix also planned together the first round of tests, to be completed in October and November.