Guidelines for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Measurement Instrument Design

In this article, the steps required for the design of a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based measurement instrument according to the application measurement target and the uncertainty assessment are delineated. The case study of 3D reconstruction of archaeological sites is discussed to highlight the necessity of the proposed design guidelines. The broad measurement capability of the UAV has led to its widespread use in a range of systems including both military and civilian applications. To determine the length measurement uncertainty sources, the process has also taken into account that additional quantities coming from the UAV platform can influence the position and attitude determination along with the final measurement result, such as vibrations, turbulence of the propellers, and magnetic fields generated by the motors.