scholarly journals Real-Time Terrain-Following of an Autonomous Quadrotor by Multi-Sensor Fusion and Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1065
Author(s):  
Yuan Yang ◽  
Yongjiang Huang ◽  
Haoran Yang ◽  
Tingting Zhang ◽  
Zixuan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Pid Controller ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Height Control ◽  
Noise Characteristics ◽  
Constant Height ◽  
Terrain Following ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite ◽  
And Control

For the application of the autonomous guidance of a quadrotor from confined undulant ground, terrain-following is the major issue for flying at a low altitude. This study has modified the open-source autopilot based on the integration of a multi-sensor receiver (a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)), a Lidar-lite (a laser-range-finder device), a barometer and a low-cost inertial navigation system (INS)). These automatically control the position, attitude and height (a constant clearance above the ground) to allow terrain-following and avoid obstacles based on multi-sensors that maintain a constant height above flat ground or with obstacles. The INS/Lidar-lite integration is applied for the attitude and the height stabilization, respectively. The height control is made by the combination of an extended Kalman filter (EKF) estimator and a cascade proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller that is designed appropriately for the noise characteristics of low accuracy sensors. The proposed terrain-following is tested by both simulations and real-world experiments. The results indicate that the quadrotor can continuously navigate and avoid obstacles at a real-time response of reliable height control with the adjustment time of the cascade PID controller improving over 50% than that of the PID controller.

scholarly journals Low-Cost Real-Time PPP/INS Integration for Automated Land Vehicles

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (22) ◽  
pp. 4896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Elsheikh ◽  
Walid Abdelfatah ◽  
Aboelmagd Nourledin ◽  
Umar Iqbal ◽  
Michael Korenberg
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Estimation Algorithm ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Single Frequency ◽  
The Road ◽  
Land Vehicles ◽  
On The Road ◽  
Vehicle Automation ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite

The last decade has witnessed a growing demand for precise positioning in many applications including car navigation. Navigating automated land vehicles requires at least sub-meter level positioning accuracy with the lowest possible cost. The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Single-Frequency Precise Point Positioning (SF-PPP) is capable of achieving sub-meter level accuracy in benign GNSS conditions using low-cost GNSS receivers. However, SF-PPP alone cannot be employed for land vehicles due to frequent signal degradation and blockage. In this paper, real-time SF-PPP is integrated with a low-cost consumer-grade Inertial Navigation System (INS) to provide a continuous and precise navigation solution. The PPP accuracy and the applied estimation algorithm contributed to reducing the effects of INS errors. The system was evaluated through two road tests which included open-sky, suburban, momentary outages, and complete GNSS outage conditions. The results showed that the developed PPP/INS system maintained horizontal sub-meter Root Mean Square (RMS) accuracy in open-sky and suburban environments. Moreover, the PPP/INS system could provide a continuous real-time positioning solution within the lane the vehicle is moving in. This lane-level accuracy was preserved even when passing under bridges and overpasses on the road. The developed PPP/INS system is expected to benefit low-cost precise land vehicle navigation applications including level 2 of vehicle automation which comprises services such as lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance.

scholarly journals Real-time GNSS precise positioning: RTKLIB for ROS

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 172988142090452 ◽  
Author(s):  
António Ferreira ◽  
Bruno Matias ◽  
José Almeida ◽  
Eduardo Silva
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Community Benefit ◽  
Precise Positioning ◽  
Robot Operating System ◽  
Field Robotics ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite ◽  
And Control ◽  
Synchronization Scheme

The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) constitutes an effective and affordable solution to the outdoor positioning problem. When combined with precise positioning techniques, such as the real time kinematic (RTK), centimeter-level positioning accuracy becomes a reality. Such performance is suitable for a whole new range of demanding applications, including high-accuracy field robotics operations. The RTKRCV, part of the RTKLIB package, is one of the most popular open-source solutions for real-time GNSS precise positioning. Yet the lack of integration with the robot operating system (ROS), constitutes a limitation on its adoption by the robotics community. This article addresses this limitation, reporting a new implementation which brings the RTKRCV capabilities into ROS. New features, including ROS publishing and control over a ROS service, were introduced seamlessly, to ensure full compatibility with all original options. Additionally, a new observation synchronization scheme improves solution consistency, particularly relevant for the moving-baseline positioning mode. Real application examples are presented to demonstrate the advantages of our rtkrcv_ros package. For community benefit, the software was released as an open-source package.

scholarly journals THE DIRECT GEOREFERENCING APPLICATION AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF UAV HELICOPTER IN GCP-FREE AREA

2015 ◽  
Vol XL-1/W4 ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. Lo ◽  
M. L. Tsai ◽  
K. W. Chiang ◽  
C. H. Chu ◽  
G. J. Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Flight Test ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Aerial Images ◽  
Positioning Accuracy ◽  
Dg Module ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite

There are many disasters happened because the weather changes extremely in these years. To facilitate applications such as environment detection or monitoring becomes very important. Therefore, the development of rapid low cost systems for collecting near real-time spatial information is very critical. Rapid spatial information collection has become an emerging trend for remote sensing and mapping applications. This study develops a Direct Georeferencing (DG) based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) helicopter photogrammetric platform where an Inertial Navigation System (INS)/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) integrated Positioning and Orientation System (POS) system is implemented to provide the DG capability of the platform. The performance verification indicates that the proposed platform can capture aerial images successfully. A flight test is performed to verify the positioning accuracy in DG mode without using Ground Control Points (GCP). The preliminary results illustrate that horizontal DG positioning accuracies in the x and y axes are around 5 meter with 100 meter flight height. The positioning accuracy in the z axis is less than 10 meter. Such accuracy is good for near real-time disaster relief. The DG ready function of proposed platform guarantees mapping and positioning capability even in GCP free environments, which is very important for rapid urgent response for disaster relief. Generally speaking, the data processing time for the DG module, including POS solution generalization, interpolation, Exterior Orientation Parameters (EOP) generation, and feature point measurements, is less than 1 hour.

scholarly journals Performance Assessment of Real-Time Multiconstellation GNSS PPP Using a Low-Cost Dual-Frequency GNSS Module

2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 37-56
Author(s):  
Abdelsatar Elmezayen ◽  
Ahmed El-Rabbany
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Autonomous Vehicle ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Dual Frequency ◽  
Positioning Accuracy ◽  
Gps Satellites ◽  
Solution Convergence ◽  
Challenging Environment ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite

Abstract The release of low-cost dual-frequency (DF) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) modules provides an opportunity for low-cost precise positioning to support autonomous vehicle applications. The new GNSS modules support the US global positioning system (GPS) L1C/L2C or L5 civilian signals, the Russian GNSS Globalnaya Navigazionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) L1/L2, Europe’s GNSS Galileo E1/E5b, and Chinese GNSS BeiDou B1/B2 signals. The availability of the DF measurements allows for removal of the ionospheric delay, enhancing the obtained positioning accuracy. Unfortunately, however, the L2C signals are only transmitted by modernized GPS satellites. This means that fewer GPS DF measurements are available. This, in turn, might affect the accuracy and the convergence of the GPS-only precise point positioning (PPP) solution. Multi-constellation GNSS PPP has the potential to improve the positioning accuracy and solution convergence due to the high redundancy of GNSS measurements. This paper aims to assess the performance of real-time quad-constellation GNSS PPP using the low-cost u-blox Z9D-F9P module. The assessment is carried out for both open-sky and challenging environment scenarios. Static, simulated-kinematic, and actual field-kinematic trials have been carried out to evaluate real-time PPP performance. Pre-saved real-time precise orbit and clock products from the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales are used to simulate the real-time scenario. It is shown that the quad-constellation GNSS PPP using the low-cost u-blox Z9D-F9P module achieves decimeter-level positioning accuracy in both the static and simulated-kinematic modes. In addition, the PPP solution convergence is improved compared to the dual- and triple-constellation GNSS PPP counterparts. For the actual kinematic trial, decimeter-level horizontal positioning accuracy is achieved through the GPS + GLONASS + Galileo PPP compared with submeter-level positioning accuracy for the GPS + GLONASS and GPS + Galileo PPP counterparts. Additionally, submeter-level vertical positioning accuracy is achieved through the GPS + GLONASS + Galileo PPP compared with meter-level positioning accuracy for GPS + GLONASS and GPS + Galileo PPP counterparts.

scholarly journals Gauss process regression for real-time ionospheric delay estimation from GNSS observations

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balazs Lupsic ◽  
Bence Takacs
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Autonomous Vehicle ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Ionospheric Delay ◽  
Single Frequency ◽  
Gauss Process ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite ◽  
Autonomous Vehicle Navigation ◽  
Gnss Observations

AbstractThe number of devices equipped with global satellite positioning has exceeded seven billion recently. There are a wide variety of receivers regarding their accuracy and reliability. Low cost, multi-frequency units have been released on the market latterly; however, the number of single-frequency receivers is still significant. Since their measurements are influenced by ionospheric delay, accurate ionosphere models are of utmost importance to reduce the effect. This paper summarizes how Gauss process regression (GPR) can be applied to derive near real-time regional ionosphere models using raw Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations of permanent stations. While Gauss process is widely used in machine learning, GPR is a nonparametric, Bayesian approach to regression. GPR has several benefits for ionosphere monitoring since it is quite robust and efficient to derive a grid model from data available in irregular set of ionospheric pierce points. The corresponding instrumental delays are estimated by a parallel Kalman filter. The presented algorithm can be applied near real-time, however the results are offline calculated and are compared to two high quality TEC map products. Based on the analysis, the accuracy of the GPR modell is in 2 TECu range. The developed methods could be efficiently applied in the field of autonomous vehicle navigation with meeting both accuracy and integrity requirements.

scholarly journals Methodology for the Correction of the Spatial Orientation Angles of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Using Real Time GNSS, a Shoreline Image and an Electronic Navigational Chart

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2810
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Naus ◽  
Piotr Szymak ◽  
Paweł Piskur ◽  
Maciej Niedziela ◽  
Aleksander Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Spatial Orientation ◽  
Orientation Angle ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Angle Measurement ◽  
Angle Correction ◽  
Lidar Measurements ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Marine Applications ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite

Undoubtedly, Low-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming more common in marine applications. Equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) receiver for highly accurate positioning, they perform camera and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) measurements. Unfortunately, these measurements may still be subject to large errors-mainly due to the inaccuracy of measurement of the optical axis of the camera or LiDAR sensor. Usually, UAVs use a small and light Inertial Navigation System (INS) with an angle measurement error of up to 0.5∘ (RMSE). The methodology for spatial orientation angle correction presented in the article allows the reduction of this error even to the level of 0.01∘ (RMSE). It can be successfully used in coastal and port waters. To determine the corrections, only the Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) and an image of the coastline are needed.

APLICAÇÃO DE GEOTECNOLOGIAS NA ANÁLISE DE VIABILIDADE TÉCNICA E ECONÔMICA DO PROJETO DE IMPLANTAÇÃO DO IFMA - CAMPUS ITAQUI-BACANGA.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Maelckson Bruno Barros Gomes ◽  
André Luis Silva Santos
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite System ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Navigation Satellite ◽  
Real Time Kinematic ◽  
Global Navigation ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite

<p class="04CorpodoTexto">Este artigo tem por objetivo aplicar geotecnologias para obtenção de informações planialtimétricas a fim de avaliar a viabilidade de implantação do campus Centro Histórico/Itaqui-Bacanga do IFMA. Considerando que para realização de levantamento por métodos tradicionais é recomendado que seja realizado o destocamento e a limpeza do terreno previamente, avaliou-se a realização do levantamento planialtimétrico a partir de um par de receptores <em>Global Navigation Satellite System</em> (GNSS) pelo método <em>Real Time Kinematic</em> (RTK) pós processado e também a partir da realização de levantamento fotogramétrico, utilizando aeronave remotamente pilotada (ARP), popularmente conhecida como drone. Esta análise permitiu demonstrar que o aerolevantamento com a ARP pode ser aplicado na concepção inicial de um projeto de engenharia, conforme classificação do Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) para níveis de precisão, pois obteve-se uma diferença orçamentária de 19% entre os projetos elaborados a partir das duas geotecnologias.</p><div> </div>

scholarly journals Design of a Multiband Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Frequency Interference Monitoring Front-End with Synchronized Secondary Sensors

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 2594
Author(s):  
Aiden Morrison ◽  
Nadezda Sokolova ◽  
James Curran
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Radio Frequency Interference ◽  
Navigation Satellite ◽  
Inertial Measurement ◽  
Front End ◽  
Global Navigation ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite

This paper investigates the challenges of developing a multi-frequency radio frequency interference (RFI) monitoring and characterization system that is optimized for ease of deployment and operation as well as low per unit cost. To achieve this, we explore the design and development of a multiband global navigation satellite system (GNSS) front-end which is intrinsically capable of synchronizing side channel information from non-RF sensors, such as inertial measurement units and integrated power meters, to allow the simultaneous production of substantial amounts of sampled spectrum while also allowing low-cost, real-time monitoring and logging of detected RFI events. While the inertial measurement unit and barometer are not used in the RFI investigation discussed, the design features that provide for their precise synchronization with the RF sample stream are presented as design elements worth consideration. The designed system, referred to as Four Independent Tuners with Data-packing (FITWD), was utilized in a data collection campaign over multiple European and Scandinavian countries in support of the determination of the relative occurrence rates of L1/E1 and L5/E5a interference events and intensities where it proved itself a successful alternative to larger and more expensive commercial solutions. The dual conclusions reached were that it was possible to develop a compact low-cost, multi-channel radio frequency (RF) front-end that implicitly supported external data source synchronization, and that such monitoring systems or similar capabilities integrated within receivers are likely to be needed in the future due to the increasing occurrence rates of GNSS RFI events.

scholarly journals Online Near real-time Mine Disaster Monitoring System Based on Geosensor Networks

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Haifeng Hu
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Disaster Monitoring ◽  
Process Observation ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite ◽  
Safety And Stability

Abstract—An online automatic disaster monitoring system can reduce or prevent geological mine disasters to protect life and property. Global Navigation Satellite System receivers and the GeoRobot are two kinds of in-situ geosensors widely used for monitoring ground movements near mines. A combined monitoring solution is presented that integrates the advantages of both. In addition, a geosensor network system to be used for geological mine disaster monitoring is described. A complete online automatic mine disaster monitoring system including data transmission, data management, and complex data analysis is outlined. This paper proposes a novel overall architecture for mine disaster monitoring. This architecture can seamlessly integrate sensors for long-term, remote, and near real-time monitoring. In the architecture, three layers are used to collect, manage and process observation data. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, a system encompassing this architecture has been deployed to monitor the safety and stability of a slope at an open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia.

scholarly journals Kinematic PPP Using Mixed GPS/Glonass Single-Frequency Observations

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-112
Author(s):  
Mostafa Hamed ◽  
Ashraf Abdallah ◽  
Ashraf Farah
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Single Frequency ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Frequency Data ◽  
Dual Frequency ◽  
Trajectory Data ◽  
Average Improvement ◽  
Kinematic Ppp ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite

Abstract Nowadays, Precise Point Positioning (PPP) is a very popular technique for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning. The advantage of PPP is its low cost as well as no distance limitation when compared with the differential technique. Single-frequency receivers have the advantage of cost effectiveness when compared with the expensive dual-frequency receivers, but the ionosphere error makes a difficulty to be completely mitigated. This research aims to assess the effect of using observations from both GPS and GLONASS constellations in comparison with GPS only for kinematic purposes using single-frequency observations. Six days of the year 2018 with single-frequency data for the Ethiopian IGS station named “ADIS” were processed epoch by epoch for 24 hours once with GPS-only observations and another with GPS/GLONASS observations. In addition to “ADIS” station, a kinematic track in the New Aswan City, Aswan, Egypt, has been observed using Leica GS15, geodetic type, dual-frequency, GPS/GLONASS GNSS receiver and single-frequency data have been processed. Net_Diff software was used for processing all the data. The results have been compared with a reference solution. Adding GLONASS satellites significantly improved the satellite number and Position Dilution Of Precision (PDOP) value and accordingly improved the accuracy of positioning. In the case of “ADIS” data, the 3D Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) ranged between 0.273 and 0.816 m for GPS only and improved to a range from 0.256 to 0.550 m for GPS/GLONASS for the 6 processed days. An average improvement ratio of 24%, 29%, 30%, and 29% in the east, north, height, and 3D position components, respectively, was achieved. For the kinematic trajectory, the 3D position RMSE improved from 0.733 m for GPS only to 0.638 m for GPS/GLONASS. The improvement ratios were 7%, 5%, 28%, and 13% in the east, north, height, and 3D position components, respectively, for the kinematic trajectory data. This opens the way to add observations from the other two constellations (Galileo and BeiDou) for more accuracy in future research.

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