Real-Time Trajectory Generation for Autonomous Nonlinear Flight Systems

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicle and smart munition systems need robust, real-time path generation and guidance systems to avoid terrain obstructions, navigate in hazardous weather conditions, and react to mobile threats such as radar, jammers, and unfriendly aircraft. In Phase 1 of this STTR project, real-time path planning and trajectory generation techniques for two dimensional flight were developed and demonstrated in software simulation. In Phase 2 these algorithms were refined, extended and were demonstrated in flight on a unique low-cost micro-air vehicle with a payload which included three optical flow sensors, a laser ranger, and a video camera. This report is a comprehensive technical summary of the significant work completed in Phase 2 to enable development of autonomous flight control systems which are capable of accomplishing the complex task of path and trajectory planning in dynamic and uncertain environments.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA456307

Entities

People

  • Michael B. Larsen
  • Randal W. Beard
  • Timothy W. Mclain

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Algorithms
  • Cameras
  • Collision Avoidance
  • Control Systems
  • Flight Control Systems
  • Geometry
  • Guidance
  • Measurement
  • Micro Air Vehicles
  • Motion Planning
  • Range Finders
  • Robotics
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerial Unmanned Vehicle Swarm Micro Periodontal Dentistry.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Directed Energy