November 11, 2025 | 11:36
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YSU physics students launch research project on autonomous UAV for 3D mapping in enclosed spaces
A group of students from the Institute of Physics at Yerevan State University is working on the design of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the development of an interconnected autonomous system. Their goal is to create a system capable of performing 3D reconstruction, object detection and targeting, and high-precision imaging in enclosed or hard-to-access environments, combining both aerial and ground-based capabilities.
The project, titled "3D Reconstruction and Object Targeting in Enclosed Spaces Using an Autonomous UAV", was developed by fourth-year bachelor's students of the YSU Institute of Physics. It has received funding through the "Education and Career" student initiatives competition organized by the YSU Alumni and Career Center.
One of the students involved in the project, Hovhannes Tumanyan, spoke with us about several key questions — including why UAV development is necessary, the environments in which they will be used, the components of the ground system, how the drone and ground system will communicate, and more.
"The need for designing UAVs stems from their ability to collect data quickly, accurately, and safely in environments where human presence is difficult, dangerous, or inefficient. Such UAVs are valuable in both scientific and practical fields, for example, in the inspection of industrial facilities, rescue operations, as well as archaeological and technical research," says Hovhannes.
He emphasized that the UAVs are intended primarily for GPS-denied environments, such as underground facilities and tunnels, the interiors of industrial plants, or historical buildings.
Speaking about the ground control system, Hovhannes noted, "The ground system consists of the following main components: a control module (Ground Control Station) — a computer interface or remote-control panel used to manage the UAV's flight; a communication module, a data processing system for the preliminary analysis of sensor data and the generation of 3D models."
When asked about the communication link between the UAV and the ground system, he explained, "The UAV and the ground system will be connected via an optical fiber link. This solution was chosen to ensure high data throughput, low latency, and protection against interference. The transmitted data include the UAV's position, speed, flight parameters, power status, and sensor data from cameras, LiDAR, and IMU, as well as instructions from the ground system for flight adjustments, hovering, or landing."
The team members plan to develop a fully autonomous UAV capable of performing 3D mapping in enclosed spaces without relying on external navigation systems.
The team comprises five bachelor's students from the "Data Processing in Physics and Artificial Intelligence" program: Roman Kasparyan is responsible for computer vision tasks, David Alaverdyan – optical and 3D reconstruction, David Avetisyan – data processing, Artyom Khachatryan – mathematical modeling and optimization, and Hovhannes Tumanyan – algorithms and UAV design.
According to Hovhannes Tumanyan, the team members collaborate closely to ensure seamless integration between the technical and software components.
