Trajectory Tracking of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Under Adverse Conditions

Brandy Parker* and Mario Perhinschi, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505

Field (Broad Category): Engineering (Physical Sciences & Engineering) 

Student’s Major: Aerospace Engineering 

The following experiment was conducted to analyze the performance of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under adverse conditions. Previous research has been conducted through the West Virginia University flight simulator and questions arose about how much impact different wind scenarios and control surface failures affect the performance of the aircraft. A detailed experimental design was created to test numerous flight scenarios that include variations in control surface failures and wind magnitude and direction. To evaluate how well a trajectory is followed autonomously, four different flight path geometries were considered for each scenario. To conclude how well the aircraft followed each trajectory, the commanded path is compared to the actual path taken by the aircraft. The expected results of this experiment after each test has been evaluated are that wind direction and control surface failures will have a major impact on how well the UAV follows the given path. These effects are evaluated in terms of metrics based on trajectory tracking errors and control activity. The results of this investigation show that the severity of the combined wind conditions and failures affect significantly autonomous flight performance and safety. It is expected that the results of this investigation will contribute to the development of UAV’s what will be capable of safe and efficient autonomous flight. 

Funding: 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course