Projects/2020–2022
UAV Visual Tracking & Localization
NYU Abu Dhabi · CAIR
Challenge, contribution, and outcome
CHALLENGE
Translate UAV perception algorithms into integrated systems that could be evaluated during live flights.
MY CONTRIBUTION
Integrated sensing and arena instrumentation and supported flight validation across six papers on UAV perception and cooperative localization.
OUTCOME
Experimental systems and flight validation supporting six peer-reviewed publications on UAV perception from 2020 to 2022.
Project overview
A research programme spanning UAV detection, tracking, and relative localization. I contributed system integration and experimental development, including arena instrumentation, RGB-thermal pan-tilt-zoom sensing, and flight validation in Kinesis. The programme covered cooperative localization, deep-learning tracking, and Siamese aerial trackers across six peer-reviewed papers from 2020 to 2022.
System Record
- Application
- APPCounter-UAS
- Period
- 2020–2022
Development & Validation
- Thread opens with airborne PTZ visual tracking and relative visual localization for cooperative UAS, then layers computationally efficient RGB-thermal detection so thermal cues pull small drones out of clutter while RGB refines boxes at frame rate.
- Deep-learning evader pursuit and a Siamese adaptive transformer tracker extend the same arena stack to agile targets; relative spherical-visual localization closes the loop for multi-UAV cooperative localization.
- Flagship RGB-T detection and tracking demo integrated and flight-tested inside NYUAD's netted Kinesis arena with pan-tilt-zoom camera coverage — the programme includes six peer-reviewed outputs plus the live arena video.
Credits & Collaborators
Nikolaos Giakoumidis
NYU Abu Dhabi · CAIR
System integration · Co-author
Anthony Tzes
NYU Abu Dhabi · CAIR
Principal Investigator
Athanasios Tsoukalas
NYU Abu Dhabi · CAIR
Co-author
Nikolaos Evangeliou
NYU Abu Dhabi · CAIR
Co-author
Dengqing Xing
NYU Abu Dhabi · CAIR
Co-author
Scott Holter
NYU Abu Dhabi · CAIR
Co-author
Publications & media
- Airborne Visual Tracking of UAVs with a Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera
Publication
2020
Source · ROBOVIS, 90–97
- Relative visual localization for unmanned aerial systems
Publication
2020
Source · arXiv preprint arXiv:2003.01954
- Computationally efficient RGB-t UAV detection and tracking system
Publication
2021
Source · 2021 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS), 1410–1415
- Deep learning assisted visual tracking of evader-UAV
Publication
2021
Source · 2021 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS), 252–257
- Relative Spherical-Visual Localization for Cooperative Unmanned Aerial Systems
Publication
2021
Source · 2021 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS), 371–376
- Siamese adaptive transformer network for real-time aerial tracking
Publication
2022
Source · 2022 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS), 570–575
Video
Additional Media
FIELD TEST — UAV & GROUND STATION — NYU Abu Dhabi · CAIR · 2020–2022
Researcher steadying a long custom multirotor on a sports field, with a canopy ground station, dish antenna, and tripod sensors set up behind