Electronics and Electrical Engineering and Control

Aerial simulation docking technology of fixed-wing clustering UAVs

  • Yong XU ,
  • Hongtao YAN ,
  • Tao JIA ,
  • Yue MA ,
  • Zehua DENG ,
  • Duoneng LIU
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  • 1.Aerospace Technology Institute,China Aevodynamics Research and Development Center,Mianyang 621000,China
    2.Beijing Aerohydrodynamic Frontier Research Center,Beijing 100011,China

Received date: 2021-10-19

  Revised date: 2021-11-05

  Accepted date: 2022-01-02

  Online published: 2023-02-01

Supported by

Science and Technology Innovation 2030 Major Project(2020AAA0104801);National Natural Science Foundation of China(61903364)

Abstract

Autonomous aerial refueling technology is of great significance for improving the endurance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), expanding the combat radius, increasing the weight of the payload, and enhancing strategic deployment. It is an essential technology for future intelligent clustering UAV systems. In this paper, we study the related aerial simulation docking technologies and strategies of the fixed-wing clustering UAVs for the simulation docking race of UI⁃STRIVE. First, considering the characteristics of fast speed and high formation density of the clustering UAVs, we design the aerial simulation docking pipeline of the clustering UAV. The shortest time pursuit scheme is also designed based on the Dubins path, and the nonlinear guidance law is used for route tracking. Second, we design a set of weak classifiers to classify the targets based on the prior information of the simulation drogue, and the detection process is accelerated by cascading these classifiers. Third, for the precise docking stage, we design a strategy for precise docking along the course angle, and compute the visual guidance parameters by integrating the attitudes prior of UAV and the size of the simulation drogue. We also develop a corresponding fixed-wing clustering UAVs system, and participate in the 2021 simulation docking race of UI⁃STRIVE in a formation of 4 UAVs. Results demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the proposed fixed-wing clustering UAVs system and simulation docking technologies.

Cite this article

Yong XU , Hongtao YAN , Tao JIA , Yue MA , Zehua DENG , Duoneng LIU . Aerial simulation docking technology of fixed-wing clustering UAVs[J]. ACTA AERONAUTICAET ASTRONAUTICA SINICA, 2023 , 44(5) : 326539 -326539 . DOI: 10.7827/S1000-6893.2021.26539

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