Vibration Control in UAVs for Enhanced LiDAR Accuracy Using Metamaterials

As technology develops, new systems are being created to deliver increased accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and overall efficiency. A specific example of this is LiDAR sensors onboard UAVs for 3D mapping applications of structures. As these sensors become lighter, this allows manufacturing to use smaller UAVs for closer and more confined environmental spaces. However, smaller UAVs introduce higher vibrational frequencies, those that current systems struggle to mitigate. The implementation of metamaterial structures can act as a dampener for these high frequency ranges. Metamaterials can be used to create bandgaps, which can enable frequency ranges that can prevent vibrations from affecting UAVs. Implementation in the structure of UAVs allows it to mitigate the vibrations without adding external materials and components, making them more affordable and lightweight. It also allows for utilization in tasks that require better precision in environments such as cities or other confined spaces. Research will investigate various engineered structures of materials to create the optimal metamaterial(s) for the application of vibration mitigation with LiDAR usage.