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Trajectory generation for autonomous soaring UAS

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Abstract

As unmanned aerial vehicles are expected to do more and more advanced tasks, improved range and persistence is required. This paper presents a method of using shallow layer cumulus convection to extend the range and duration of small unmanned aerial vehicles. A simulation model of an X-models XCalubur electric motor-glider is used in combination with a refined 4D parametric thermal model to simulate soaring flight. The parametric thermal model builds on previous successful models with refinements to more accurately describe the weather in northern Europe. The implementation of the variation of the MacCready setting is discussed. Methods for generating efficient trajectories are evaluated and recommendations are made regarding implementation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK

    J. H. A. Clarke & Wen-Hua Chen

Authors
  1. J. H. A. Clarke
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  2. Wen-Hua Chen
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Correspondence to J. H. A. Clarke.

Additional information

J. H. A. Clarke received his M.Eng. degree in aeronautical engineering from the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University, UK in 2008. He is currently a Ph.D. researcher in the same department. His masters degree specialised in stabilisation and control of autonomous helicopters.

His research interests include activities include advanced attitude and heading determination and energy efficient trajectory generation for autonomous vehicles. As an experienced full size and scale pilot, he has managed the laboratory’s unmanned aerial vehicle operations for the last 3 years.

Wen-Hua Chen received his M. Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Department of Automatic Control at Northeast University, PRC in 1989 and 1991, respectively. From 1991 to 1996, he was a lecturer in Department of Automatic Control at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, PRC. He held a research position and then a lectureship in control engineering in Centre for Systems and Control at University of Glasgow, UK from 1997 to 2000. He currently holds a senior lectureship in flight control systems in Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University, UK. He has published three books and more than 150 articles in journals and conferences.

His research interests include the development of advanced control strategies and their applications in aerospace engineering, in particular in unmanned aircraft systems.

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Clarke, J.H.A., Chen, WH. Trajectory generation for autonomous soaring UAS. Int. J. Autom. Comput. 9, 248–256 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11633-012-0641-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11633-012-0641-5

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