Characterization of Quad-Copter Positioning Systems and the Effect of Pose Uncertainties on Field Probe Measurements

Abstract

This research intends to reduce the impact of uncertainties caused by errors in the incident field by utilizing a unique two-way field probe in the form of a geodesic sphere encompassing a commercial quad-copter aircraft. The probe is used to measure the distortions in the incident fields in the target volume to quantify one of the key sources of RCS measurement uncertainty. This research determined the uncertainty of the probe by creating a calibrated data set of the probe's RCS, extracting the calibrated RCS based on the measurement flight path, comparing the measured with the calibrated data, and determining the deviation in the difference. The accuracy of the comparison, and therefore the measurement, depends on the accuracy of the flight path. An uncertainty in the probe's pose during flight translates into a field measurement uncertainty. These uncertainties were determined for multiple positioning systems. Each uncertainty was fed into the measurement model and their uncertainties were determined. Field measurement accuracies of < 2 deg in phase and < 0.05V /min magnitude were demonstrated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 24, 2016
Accession Number
AD1053805

Entities

People

  • James C Dossett

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Set
  • Data Sets
  • Detection
  • Digital Data
  • Electromagnetic Shielding
  • Engineering
  • Flight Paths
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Grids
  • Inertial Measurement Units
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Navigation
  • Radar
  • Radar Equipment
  • Test Facilities
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Geodesy
  • Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster