The Hybrid Autonomous Wayfinding Courier (HAWC) project is an interdisciplinary engineering effort developed for the Raytheon 2024/25 West Coast Autonomous Vehicle Competition. The project consists of two fully autonomous systems: a Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and an Unmanned Delivery Vehicle (UDV). The UAV's primary objective is to autonomously navigate a predefined 30-yard by 30-yard field, locate a designated ArUco marker, and transmit the marker's GPS coordinates to the UDV. The UAV utilizes advanced computer vision and Real-Time Kinematic GPS technology to achieve precise marker detection and location accuracy. The UDV then autonomously receives this data and delivers a payload — a standardized first aid kit — directly to the identified location. The project emphasizes autonomous operation without human intervention, aligning with FAA regulations and competition guidelines.
This project addresses key technical challenges, including autonomous navigation, high-precision localization, real-time inter-vehicle communication, and reliable package delivery. The integration of MAVSDK flight control software, OpenCV-based ArUco marker detection, and a custom telemetry radio communication system ensures seamless coordination between the UAV and UDV. Additionally, safety features such as kill switches and visual observers are incorporated to mitigate operational risks. Beyond the competition, the HAWC system demonstrates scalable solutions for applications in disaster relief, remote package delivery, and dynamic supply chains, contributing to the future of autonomous logistics systems.