Efficient Analog Ultrasonic Detection for Autonomous Drone Navigation in GPS-Denied Environments

Efficient and reliable object detection is essential for ensuring the safe navigation of autonomous drones, particularly in GPS-denied environments such as warehouses, tunnels, and disaster zones. This work presents a customdesigned analog ultrasonic detection system, purpose-built to address the latency, energy, and hardware complexity challenges associated with conventional microcontroller- and FPGA-based approaches. The proposed system operates without a digital processor, achieving a response time between <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$1.3-3.2 \text{ms}$</tex> and an average power consumption of 52.4 mW, verified through experimental testing using calibrated measurement tools. Compared to commercial alternatives like the HC-SR04, the system offers a substantial improvement in energy efficiency and response speed while maintaining an accuracy of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$\pm \mathrm{1.8 cm}$</tex> up to 1.2 meters. Its minimalistic design, low-power footprint, and rapid detection capabilities position it as a commercially viable solution for critical navigation tasks in mission-driven UAV applications.