Real-time Implementation and Validation of a New Hierarchical Path Planning Scheme for UAVs via Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com.We develop a hierarchical path planning and control algorithm for a small fixed-wing UAV. Incorporating the hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation environment, the hierarchical path planning and control algorithm has been validated through on-board, real-time implementation on a small autopilot. We present two distinct real-time software framework for implementation of the overall control algorithms including path planning, path smoothing, and path following. We especially emphasize the use of a real-time kernel, which shows effectiveness and robustness in accomplishing non-trivial real-time software environment. By a seamless integration of the control algorithms with a help of real-time kernel, it has been demonstrated that the UAV equipped with a small autopilot having limited computational resources manages to autonomously accomplish the mission control objective of reaching the goal while avoiding obstacles without human intervention

QV: the quad winged, energy efficient, six degree of freedom capable micro aerial vehicle

The conventional Mini and Large scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems span anywhere from approximately 12 inches to 12 feet; endowing them with larger propulsion systems, batteries/fuel-tanks, which in turn provide ample power reserves for long-endurance flights, powerful actuators, on-board avionics, wireless telemetry etc. The limitations thus imposed become apparent when shifting to Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) and trying to equip them with equal or near-equal flight endurance, processing, sensing and communication capabilities, as their larger scale cousins. The conventional MAV as outlined by The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a vehicle that can have a maximum dimension of 6 inches and weighs no more than 100 grams. Under these tight constraints, the footprint, weight and power reserves available to on-board avionics and actuators is drastically reduced; the flight time and payload capability of MAVs take a massive plummet in keeping with these stringent size constraints. However, the demand for micro flying robots is increasing rapidly. The applications that have emerged over the years for MAVs include search&rescue operations for trapped victims in natural disaster succumbed urban areas; search&reconnaissance in biological, radiation, natural disaster/hazard succumbed/prone areas; patrolling&securing home/office/building premises/urban areas. VTOL capable rotary and fixed wing flying vehicles do not scale down to micro sized levels, owing to the severe loss in aerodynamic efficiency associated with low Reynolds number physics on conventional airfoils; whereas, present state of the art in flapping wing designs lack in one or more of the minimum qualities required from an MAV: Appreciable flight time, appreciable payload capacity for on-board sensors/telemetry and 6DoF hovering/VTOL performance. This PhD. work is directed towards overcoming these limitations. Firstly, this PhD thesis presents the advent of a novel Quad-Wing MAV configuration (called the QV). The Four-Wing configuration is capable of performing all 6DoF flight maneuvers including VTOL. The thesis presents the design, conception, simulation study and finally hardware design/development of the MAV. Secondly, this PhD thesis proves and demonstrates significant improvement in on-board Energy-Harvesting resulting in increased flight times and payload capacities of the order of even 200%-400% and more. Thirdly, this PhD thesis defines a new actuation principle called, Fixed Frequency, Variable Amplitude (FiFVA). It is demonstrated that by the use of passive elastic members on wing joints, a further significant increase in energy efficiency and consequently reduction in input power requirements is observed. An actuation efficiency increase of over 100% in many cases is possible. The natural evolution of actuation development led to invention of two novel actuation systems to illustrate the FiFVA actuation principle and consequently show energy savings and flapping efficiency improvement. Lastly, but not in the least, the PhD thesis presents supplementary work in the design, development of two novel Micro Architecture and Control (MARC) avionics platforms (autopilots) for the application of demonstrating flight control and communication capability on-board the Four-Wing Flapping prototype. The design of a novel passive feathering mechanism aimed to improve lift/thrust performance of flapping motion is also presented.PhDCommittee Chair: Vachtsevanos, George; Committee Member: Balch, Tucker; Committee Member: Book, Wayne; Committee Member: Egerstedt, Magnus; Committee Member: Howard, Ayann