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Vision-based trajectory tracking controller for autonomous close proximity operations

Sashafi, F ; Sharif University of Technology | 2008

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  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1109/AERO.2008.4526567
  3. Publisher: 2008
  4. Abstract:
  5. Tight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) autonomous missions such as formation flight and aerial refueling (AR) requires an active controller that works in conjunction with a precise vision-based sensor that is able to extract In-front aircraft relative position and orientation from captured images. A key point in implementing such a sensor is its robustness in the presence of noises and other uncertainties. In this paper, a new vision-based algorithm that uses neural networks to estimate the In-front aircraft relative orientation and position is developed. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed algorithm has been validated via a detailed modeling and a complete virtual environment based on the 6DOF nonlinear simulation of aircraft dynamics in an autonomous aerial refueling (AAR) mission. In addition, a tracking controller based on linear methods is designed to generate required commands for aircraft control surfaces and engine during an AAR. The performance of the system in the presence of noise and disturbances has also been examined. The obtain results are quite satisfactory. ©2008 IEEE
  6. Keywords:
  7. Aerial refuelling ; Aircraft control ; Aircraft dynamics ; Autonomous aerial refueling ; Close proximity ; Formation flights ; Linear methods ; Non-linear simulations ; Relative orientation ; Relative positioning ; Tracking controllers ; Trajectory tracking ; Unmanned aerial vehicles ; Virtual environment ; Vision-based ; Aircraft ; Artificial intelligence ; Control theory ; Neural networks ; Robust control ; Sensors ; Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ; Unmanned vehicles ; Virtual reality
  8. Source: 2008 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AC, Big Sky, MT, 1 March 2008 through 8 March 2008 ; 2008 ; 1095323X (ISSN) ; 1424414881 (ISBN); 9781424414888 (ISBN)
  9. URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/4526567