Adaptive Localisation for Unmanned Surface Vehicles Using IMU-Interacting Multiple Model

Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) remains to be a prevalent multi-sensor fusion method in many practices, including navigational tracking for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). This paper suggests that results from UKF fusion is unsatisfactory for USVs’ relatively smooth path due to UKF’s lack of versatility. Hence, it is proposed here that by replacing the UKF with Interacting Multiple Model (IMM), estimation results will better represent USV’s movement. Furthermore, this paper proposes slight modification to the IMM in order to heighten the algorithm’s confidence in switching modes. By exploiting angular velocity information from Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), an independent mode probability can be obtained which is then injected into the IMM. Computer simulations based on maritime operations were done to show that the proposed IMU-based IMM is able to react faster to mode changes, giving more reliable outcomes

Robust Multi-sensor Data Fusion for Practical Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) Navigation

The development of practical Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are attracting increasing attention driven by their assorted military and commercial application potential. However, addressing the uncertainties presented in practical navigational sensor measurements of an USV in maritime environment remain the main challenge of the development. This research aims to develop a multi-sensor data fusion system to autonomously provide an USV reliable navigational information on its own positions and headings as well as to detect dynamic target ships in the surrounding environment in a holistic fashion. A multi-sensor data fusion algorithm based on Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) has been developed to generate more accurate estimations of USV’s navigational data considering practical environmental disturbances. A novel covariance matching adaptive estimation algorithm has been proposed to deal with the issues caused by unknown and varying sensor noise in practice to improve system robustness. Certain measures have been designed to determine the system reliability numerically, to recover USV trajectory during short term sensor signal loss, and to autonomously detect and discard permanently malfunctioned sensors, and thereby enabling potential sensor faults tolerance. The performance of the algorithms have been assessed by carrying out theoretical simulations as well as using experimental data collected from a real-world USV projected collaborated with Plymouth University. To increase the degree of autonomy of USVs in perceiving surrounding environments, target detection and prediction algorithms using an Automatic Identification System (AIS) in conjunction with a marine radar have been proposed to provide full detections of multiple dynamic targets in a wider coverage range, remedying the narrow detection range and sensor uncertainties of the AIS. The detection algorithms have been validated in simulations using practical environments with water current effects. The performance of developed multi-senor data fusion system in providing reliable navigational data and perceiving surrounding environment for USV navigation have been comprehensively demonstrated

A review of sensor technology and sensor fusion methods for map-based localization of service robot

Service robot is currently gaining traction, particularly in hospitality, geriatric care and healthcare industries. The navigation of service robots requires high adaptability, flexibility and reliability. Hence, map-based navigation is suitable for service robot because of the ease in updating changes in environment and the flexibility in determining a new optimal path. For map-based navigation to be robust, an accurate and precise localization method is necessary. Localization problem can be defined as recognizing the robot’s own position in a given environment and is a crucial step in any navigational process. Major difficulties of localization include dynamic changes of the real world, uncertainties and limited sensor information. This paper presents a comparative review of sensor technology and sensor fusion methods suitable for map-based localization, focusing on service robot applications

A Systematic Survey of Control Techniques and Applications: From Autonomous Vehicles to Connected and Automated Vehicles

Vehicle control is one of the most critical challenges in autonomous vehicles (AVs) and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), and it is paramount in vehicle safety, passenger comfort, transportation efficiency, and energy saving. This survey attempts to provide a comprehensive and thorough overview of the current state of vehicle control technology, focusing on the evolution from vehicle state estimation and trajectory tracking control in AVs at the microscopic level to collaborative control in CAVs at the macroscopic level. First, this review starts with vehicle key state estimation, specifically vehicle sideslip angle, which is the most pivotal state for vehicle trajectory control, to discuss representative approaches. Then, we present symbolic vehicle trajectory tracking control approaches for AVs. On top of that, we further review the collaborative control frameworks for CAVs and corresponding applications. Finally, this survey concludes with a discussion of future research directions and the challenges. This survey aims to provide a contextualized and in-depth look at state of the art in vehicle control for AVs and CAVs, identifying critical areas of focus and pointing out the potential areas for further exploration

Navigation Performance Enhancement Using IMM Filtering for Time Varying Satellite Signal Quality

A novel scheme using fuzzy logic based interacting multiple model (IMM) unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is employed in which the Fuzzy Logic Adaptive System (FLAS) is utilized to address uncertainty of measurement noise, especially for the outlier types of multipath errors for the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation processing. Multipath is known to be one of the dominant error sources, and multipath mitigation is crucial for improvement of the positioning accuracy. It is not an easy task to establish precise statistical characteristics of measurement noise in practical engineering applications. Based on the filter structural adaptation, the IMM nonlinear filtering provides an alternative for designing the adaptive filter in the GPS navigation processing for time varying satellite signal quality. The uncertainty of the noise can be described by a set of switching models using the multiple model estimation. An UKF employs a set of sigma points by deterministic sampling, which avoids the error caused by linearization as in an extended Kalman filter (EKF). For enhancing further system flexibility, the fuzzy logic system is introduced. The use of IMM with FLAS enables tuning of appropriate values for the measurement noise covariance so as to obtain improved estimation accuracy. Performance assessment will be carried out to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach for positioning improvement in GPS navigation processing

Computational intelligence approaches to robotics, automation, and control [Volume guest editors]

No abstract available