Autonomous Flying Systems (FSI-OAS)

Academic year 2025/2026
Supervisor: doc. Ing. Ivo Jebáček, Ph.D.  
Supervising institute: LÚ all courses guaranted by this institute
Teaching language: Czech
Aims of the course unit:

The course aims to familiarize students with autonomous systems, their equipment, and their operation. All in the form of a project.
Learning outcomes and competences:
 
Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of Aerodynamics and Aircraft design
Course contents:

In the frame of course there is introduced UAV technology in interactive form of education. Lectures are project oriented and during exercises there are composed groups of students, simple fixed UAV is integrated and in-flight tested by each group.

Lectures are covering – categorization and types of UAVs, typical missions and applications in civil area., sensors and types of payload for UAVs, autopilots, its concept, functionality and parameters, actuators (servos) and general other avionics for UAVs, regulation for operations, regulations and certification of vehicles, online test of operator.

Exercises – small fixed wing UAV assembly, avionics integration (remote control, autopilot, servos, power unit), mission planning and flight test. 
Teaching methods and criteria:
 
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes:

Assembling a small autonomous system is a condition for proper completion of the course. Installation of the propulsion unit and necessary electronics, mission design, and functionality demonstration.
Controlled participation in lessons:
 
Type of course unit:
    Lecture  13 × 2 hrs. optionally                  
    Laboratory exercise  2 × 1 hrs. compulsory                  
    Exercise  11 × 1 hrs. compulsory                  
Course curriculum:
    Lecture

  1. Introduction – UAS categories and terminology, typical applications.

  2. UAS operation regulation – category Open, Specific, Certified, ConOps, airspace for operation.

  3. Design and manufacturing regulations, certification.

  4. Preparation for test, online test for basic level UAV operator’s license.

  5. Fixed wing UAV exercise - drone assembly, airframe, servos, motors and accumulators.

  6. Sensors and typical payload for UAVs, data processing, data transfer, postprocessing.

  7. Remote control simulator, practices with DJI commercial multicopter drone.

  8. Autopilots – automatic control principles, types of autopilots related to UAvs categories

  9. PixHawk and ArduPilot introduction.

  10. Mission planner, mission preparation, data transfer.

  11. Fixed wing UAV exercise – 2nd step – integration of remote control receivers and autopilot, tuning.

  12. Flight tests with manual remote control

  13. Flight tests – stabilization and autonomous modes.
    Laboratory exercise

1. Laboratory tests of drone control


2. Laboratory tests of electronic equipment and avionics of the drone
    Exercise

1. Characteristics of types of unmanned vehicles


2. Signs for determining UAS categories


3. Analysis of requirements for UAS construction


4. Tests for drone operator exams


5. Practical procedure for assembling a small drone


6. Practical flying on the simulator


7. Autopilot and its functions


8. Mission programming


9. Drone construction procedure


10. Practical flying with manual control


11. Flight tests - demonstration of functionality
Literature - fundamental:
1.

Hikmet Karakoc, Emre Özbek - Editors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Design and Technology, Springer Cham 2023, ISBN 978-3-031-45320-5
2.

Kimon P. Valavanis, George J. Vachtsevanos – Editors, Handbook of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Springer Dordrecht, 2015, ISBN 978-90-481-9707-1
The study programmes with the given course:
Programme Study form Branch Spec. Final classification   Course-unit credits     Obligation     Level     Year     Semester  
N-LKT-P full-time study TLT Airtransport and Airport Technology -- GCr 3 Compulsory 2 1 S
N-LKT-P full-time study STL Aircraft Design -- GCr 3 Compulsory 2 1 S