Multitarget geolocation via an agricultural octorotor based on orthographic projection and data association

Author(s):  
Christian A Garcia ◽  
Yunjun Xu

In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles with onboard spectral sensors have been used in detecting diseases in the agricultural fields. Geolocation, i.e. calculating the global coordinate of identified diseased regions based on images taken, is an important step in automating such a scouting operation. In this paper, the problem of geolocating multiple diseased regions in an image is studied. Based on the assumptions of stationary, two-dimensional shallow target plants and hover flight, an orthographic projection-based measurement model is developed. A probabilistic data association method is used to analyze the measurements from different target sources and a Kalman filter is designed to estimate the suspected diseased leaves’ position. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time a data association technique is used in for locating multiple-diseased plants in agriculture applications. Additionally, the designed Kalman filter is based on conditions pertinent to small crops and is less computationally intensive than the typically used extended Kalman filter. Both simulation and ad hoc experiments are used to validate the proposed multitarget geolocation algorithm.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siwen Guo ◽  
Jin Wu ◽  
Zuocai Wang ◽  
Jide Qian

Orientation estimation from magnetic, angular rate, and gravity (MARG) sensor array is a key problem in mechatronic-related applications. This paper proposes a new method in which a quaternion-based Kalman filter scheme is designed. The quaternion kinematic equation is employed as the process model. With our previous contributions, we establish the measurement model of attitude quaternion from accelerometer and magnetometer, which is later proved to be the fastest (computationally) one among representative attitude determination algorithms of such sensor combination. Variance analysis is later given enabling the optimal updating of the proposed filter. The algorithm is implemented on real-world hardware where experiments are carried out to reveal the advantages of the proposed method with respect to conventional ones. The proposed approach is also validated on an unmanned aerial vehicle during a real flight. Results show that the proposed one is faster than any other Kalman-based ones and even faster than some complementary ones while the attitude estimation accuracy is maintained.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanouil A. Varouchakis

Reliable temporal modelling of groundwater level is significant for efficient water resources management in hydrological basins and for the prevention of possible desertification effects. In this work we propose a stochastic method of temporal monitoring and prediction that can incorporate auxiliary information. More specifically, we model the temporal (mean annual and biannual) variation of groundwater level by means of a discrete time autoregressive exogenous variable (ARX) model. The ARX model parameters and its predictions are estimated by means of the Kalman filter adaptation algorithm (KFAA) which, to our knowledge, is applied for the first time in hydrology. KFAA is suitable for sparsely monitored basins that do not allow for an independent estimation of the ARX model parameters. We apply KFAA to time series of groundwater level values from the Mires basin in the island of Crete. In addition to precipitation measurements, we use pumping data as exogenous variables. We calibrate the ARX model based on the groundwater level for the years 1981 to 2006 and use it to predict the mean annual and biannual groundwater level for recent years (2007–2010). The predictions are validated with the available annual averages reported by the local authorities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 175682932110168
Author(s):  
Hasan Karali ◽  
Gokhan Inalhan ◽  
M Umut Demirezen ◽  
M Adil Yukselen

In this work, a computationally efficient and high-precision nonlinear aerodynamic configuration analysis method is presented for both design optimization and mathematical modeling of small unmanned aerial vehicles. First, we have developed a novel nonlinear lifting line method which (a) provides very good match for the pre- and post-stall aerodynamic behavior in comparison to experiments and computationally intensive tools, (b) generates these results in order of magnitudes less time in comparison to computationally intensive methods such as computational fluid dynamics. This method is further extended to a complete configuration analysis tool that incorporates the effects of basic fuselage geometries. Moreover, a deep learning based surrogate model is developed using data generated by the new aerodynamic tool that can characterize the nonlinear aerodynamic performance of unmanned aerial vehicles. The major novel feature of this model is that it can predict the aerodynamic properties of unmanned aerial vehicle configurations by using only geometric parameters without the need for any special input data or pre-process phase as needed by other computational aerodynamic analysis tools. The obtained black-box function can calculate the performance of an unmanned aerial vehicle over a wide angle of attack range on the order of milliseconds, whereas computational fluid dynamics solutions take several days/weeks in a similar computational environment. The aerodynamic model predictions show an almost 1-1 coincidence with the numerical data even for configurations with different airfoils that are not used in model training. The developed model provides a highly capable aerodynamic solver for design optimization studies as demonstrated through an illustrative profile design example.


Author(s):  
Hongbo Xin ◽  
Yujie Wang ◽  
Xianzhong Gao ◽  
Qingyang Chen ◽  
Bingjie Zhu ◽  
...  

The tail-sitter unmanned aerial vehicles have the advantages of multi-rotors and fixed-wing aircrafts, such as vertical takeoff and landing, long endurance and high-speed cruise. These make the tail-sitter unmanned aerial vehicle capable for special tasks in complex environments. In this article, we present the modeling and the control system design for a quadrotor tail-sitter unmanned aerial vehicle whose main structure consists of a traditional quadrotor with four wings fixed on the four rotor arms. The key point of the control system is the transition process between hover flight mode and level flight mode. However, the normal Euler angle representation cannot tackle both of the hover and level flight modes because of the singularity when pitch angle tends to [Formula: see text]. The dual-Euler method using two Euler-angle representations in two body-fixed coordinate frames is presented to couple with this problem, which gives continuous attitude representation throughout the whole flight envelope. The control system is divided into hover and level controllers to adapt to the two different flight modes. The nonlinear dynamic inverse method is employed to realize fuselage rotation and attitude stabilization. In guidance control, the vector field method is used in level flight guidance logic, and the quadrotor guidance method is used in hover flight mode. The framework of the whole system is established by MATLAB and Simulink, and the effectiveness of the guidance and control algorithms are verified by simulation. Finally, the flight test of the prototype shows the feasibility of the whole system.


2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (1178) ◽  
pp. 373-389
Author(s):  
Y. Jiao ◽  
J. Wang ◽  
X. Pan ◽  
H. Zhou

Abstract The satellite attitude determination approach based on the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) has been widely used in many real applications. However, the accuracy of this method largely depends on the fitness of measurement model. We aim to analyse the influence of measurement errors to the accuracy of EKF based attitude determination approach in this paper. The measurement errors, which are divided into structural error and nonstructural error by their influences, are analysed in principle. In the setting of the combination of star sensors and gyros, according to the property of innovation, we employ the technique of correlation test to analyse the influences of different kinds of measurement errors. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our previous analysis.


Author(s):  
Walther H. W. Schulze ◽  
Francesc Elies Henar ◽  
Danila Potyagaylo ◽  
Axel Loewe ◽  
Matti Stenroos ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Bilal Muhammad Khan ◽  
Rabia Bilal

Recently, Flying Ad-hoc Networks (FANETs), enabling ad-hoc networking between highly mobile Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are gaining importance in several military, commercial and civilian applications. The sensitivity of these missions requires precise and prompt data delivery. Thus, the most important communication requirements that need to be addressed while designing FANETs are of high reliability and low latency. Considering these demands, this chapter focusses on mobility models, MAC protocols and routing protocols.


1997 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 108-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Grosdidier ◽  
A. Acker ◽  
A.F.J. Moffat ◽  
O. Chesneau ◽  
T. Dimeo

In the framework of the extensive study of [WC]-type nuclei of planetary nebulae undertaken since 1993 by Acker and collaborators, we report wind fluctuations for the two brightest late-type [WC] stars in the sky, observed at Observatoire de Haute-Provence (OHP, France) and Observatoire du mont Mégantic (OMM, Canada). In particular we confirm Balick et al.'s (1996, AJ, 111, 834) CIIIλ5696 line profile variations for the [WC8] nucleus of NGC 40. Moving features seen on the top of this line are interpreted as outflowing “blobs” which are accelerated in the WR wind. Kinematic parameters have been derived and compared to those observed for massive WR stars. This will be discussed in a forthcoming paper (Grosdidier et al., 1996, in preparation). Assuming the average motion of the blobs reflects the global wind expansion and adopting the ad hoc β velocity law, we find that the exponent β must be larger than 3 in order to fit the measured radial accelerations (up to ∼ 0.08 km s–2). Evidence for clumping in the wind of the [WC9] nucleus BD+30°3639 is shown for the first time and presented in Acker et al. (1996, A&ALetters, in press). In contrast to NGC 40, the clumps in this star show very low acceleration.


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