Abstract:
To address the challenge of selecting suitable take-off and landing sites for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in power inspection during outdoor operations, this study designs and develops an outdoor auto-leveling platform. Six major components—platform unit, detection unit, control unit, leg unit, power unit, and connection mechanism—are considered, with performance requirements proposed based on cost, practical applicability, and field experience. Appropriate components for each unit were selected, experimentally validated, and optimally configured. Finally, the reliability of the developed platform was verified under actual power line inspection conditions. The results indicate that the auto-leveling take-off and landing platform meets the design requirement of a final leveling angle within 10°, ensuring safe UAV operations in complex outdoor terrain.