Articles

Aerial-ground heterogeneous cooperation based on multi-round task allocation method

  • Weicheng DI ,
  • Jinkui XU ,
  • Zixing WEI ,
  • Jinwu XIANG ,
  • Zhan TU
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  • 1.School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering,Beihang University,Beijing 100191,China
    2.School of Future Aerospace Technology,Beihang University,Beijing 100191,China
    3.Institute of Unmanned System,Beihang University,Beijing 100191,China
E-mail: zhantu@buaa.edu.cn

Received date: 2024-10-08

  Revised date: 2024-12-06

  Accepted date: 2024-12-17

  Online published: 2024-12-30

Abstract

UAVs are widely used in civilian applications, especially in the era of the low-altitude economy. These applications often involve multi-rounds and long durations. However, small or medium UAVs generally have limited endurance. Compared to recharge after returning to their home base, cooperation with mobile ground-based energy-support UGVs may improve efficiency. This cooperation, however, imposes higher demands on task allocation. To address this issue, this paper considers the endurance constraints of UAVs and proposes a dynamic environmental modeling method to describe the usage of multi-round. Specifically, a grid-based dynamic graph model is designed to update waypoint deployment between each round. Aerial-ground heterogeneous platforms plan routes between waypoints while accounting for no-fly and no-entry zones. Through this, an energy cost matrix is constructed. Additionally, a hierarchical fast-solving method for multi-round task allocation is developed, which can be divided into two different levels. At the first level, a clustering algorithm is used to achieve uniform partitioning of way-points into subregions. At the second level, an improved multi-objective genetic algorithm is developed to allocate tasks in two scenarios: within the subregions for UAVs and between the subregions for UGVs. Finally, the parameters affecting task duration and take-off/landing cycles are analyzed. Simulations and experiments validate the efficiency of this heterogeneous system in long-duration and large-area missions. This paper uses the concepts of endurance constraints and redeployment for heterogeneous aerial-ground task allocation and provides a comprehensive framework with real-time applicability, offering a valuable reference for the deployment of autonomous missions.

Cite this article

Weicheng DI , Jinkui XU , Zixing WEI , Jinwu XIANG , Zhan TU . Aerial-ground heterogeneous cooperation based on multi-round task allocation method[J]. ACTA AERONAUTICAET ASTRONAUTICA SINICA, 2025 , 46(11) : 531348 -531348 . DOI: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2024.31348

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