MAVLink based communication for air pollution measurement system

The article presents a system for the detection and analysis of airborne pollutants. The system relies on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV/RPAS) which enables air quality to be tested at different levels relative to the ground level. However, the UAV/RPAS is only a carrier for the designed AAM (Air Acquisition Module) measuring apparatus that is intended to measure air parameters, such as CO2 and PM contents, humidity, temperature, etc. All data is stored in the internal memory of the AAM measuring module for subsequent detailed analysis. An important added feature of the presented pollutant detection and analysis system is the capability to observe AAM measuring apparatus readings in real time on the screens of a Ground Control Station (GCS). This functionality is enabled thanks to wireless measurement data transmission using the standard UAV-GCS telemetric connection based on the MAVlink protocol. The article details individual components of the system and reports test results acquired from a measuring air raid made to determine the low-emission management of a single-family house located in a lightly urbanized extra-urban area.