Optimization of beamforming and path planning for UAV-assisted wireless relay networks

Recently, unmanned aerial vehicles （UAVs） acting as relay platforms have attracted considerable attention due to the advantages of extending coverage and improving connectivity for long-range communications. Specifically, in the scenario where the access point （AP） is mobile, a UAV needs to find an efficient path to guarantee the connectivity of the relay link. Motivated by this fact, this paper proposes an optimal design for beamforming （BF） and UAV path planning. First of all, we study a dual-hop amplify-and-forward （AF） wireless relay network, in which a UAV is used as relay between a mobile AP and a fixed base station （BS）. In the network, both of the AP and the BS are equipped with multiple antennas, whereas the UAV has a single antenna. Then, we obtain the output signal~to-noise ratio （SNR） of the dual-hop relay network. Based on the criterion of maximizing the output SNR, we develop an optimal design to obtain the solution of the optimal BF weight vector and the UAV heading angle. Next, we derive the closed-form outage probability （OP） expression to investigate the performance of the dual-hop relay network conveniently. Finally, computer simulations show that the proposed approach can obtain nearly optimal flying path and OP performance, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Furthermore, we find that increasing the antenna number at the BS or the maximal heading angle can significantly improve the performance of the considered relay network.     

Training effectiveness evaluation of helicopter emergency relief based on virtual simulation

Helicopters are playing an increasingly important part in emergency relief, such as earthquake rescue, firefighting and medical transport. With the development of virtual simulation technology, virtual simulation-based training is widely used in the training of the helicopter crew especially for the dangerous and costly missions mentioned above. A complete training effectiveness evaluation method is proposed to evaluate the trainees’ training effect based on virtual simulation in this paper. A key to this method is regarding the complicated process as a discrete event-activity flow system and establishing the evaluation indicator system. Then expert group and Analytical Network Process (ANP) are applied to determine the weight of indicators. When the training data are processed, there is a novel attempt to apply Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) model to calculate the two categories of indicators. Eventually, an experiment and the analysis were carried out to validate the evaluation method.     

Heading control strategy assessment for coaxial compound helicopters

The coaxial compound helicopter has two possible strategies for heading control: collective differential and rudder deflection. A flight dynamics model is developed to assess the effect of different heading control strategies. This includes the trim characteristics, steady flight performance,controllability, and manoeuvrability. The trim study demonstrates that heading control strategies are less influential on trim results, and the steady flight performance is also not significantly affected by the heading control strategy adopted. The controllability analysis shows although heading bandwidth and phase delay results at various speeds with different heading control strategies are all satisfied, the control derivative of the collective differential decreases as speed increases, and its heading aggressive agility is degraded into Level 3 in high-speed flight. In addition, using collective differential would lead to severe heading-rolling coupling as forward speed increases. On the contrary, the control derivative and aggressive agility of the rudder deflection is improved with forward speed, and there is no evidence of heading-rolling coupling. Finally, the transient turn MissionTask-Element(MTE) is utilized to investigate the heading manoeuvre characteristics in different heading control strategies, which indicates that the collective differential would add the amplitude of control input and the power consumption during this MTE.     

A new modeling scheme for powered parafoil unmanned aerial vehicle platforms: Theory and experiments

A novel framework is established for accurate modeling of Powered Parafoil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (PPUAV). The model is developed in the following three steps: obtaining a linear dynamic model, simplifying the model structure, and estimating the model mismatch due to model variance and external disturbance factors. First, a six degree-of-freedom linear model, or the structured model, is obtained through dynamic establishment and linearization. Second, the data correlation analysis is adopted to determine the criterion for proper model complexity and to simplify the structured model. Next, an active model is established, combining the simplified model with the model mismatch estimator. An adapted Kalman filter is utilized for the real-time estimation of states and model mismatch. We finally derive a linear system model while taking into account of model variance and external disturbance. Actual flight tests verify the effectiveness of our active model in different flight scenarios.     

Computational engineering analysis of external geometrical modifications on MQ-1 unmanned combat aerial vehicle

This paper focuses on the effects of external geometrical modifications on the aerodynamic characteristics of the MQ-1 predator Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) using computational fluid dynamics. The investigations are performed for 16 flight conditions at an altitude of 7.6 km and at a constant speed of 56.32 m/s. Two models are analysed, namely the baseline model and the model with external geometrical modifications installed on it. Both the models are investigated for various angles of attack from −4° to 16°, angles of bank from 0° to 6° and angles of yaw from 0° to 4°. Due to the unavailability of any experimental (wind tunnel or flight test) data for this UCAV in the literature, a thorough verification of calculations process is presented to demonstrate confidence level in the numerical simulations. The analysis quantifies the loss of lift and increase in drag for the modified version of the MQ-1 predator UCAV along with the identification of stall conditions. Local improvement (in drag) of up to 96% has been obtained by relocating external modifications, whereas global drag force reduction of roughly 0.5% is observed. The effects of external geometrical modifications on the control surfaces indicate the blanking phenomenon and reduction in forces on the control surfaces that can reduce the aerodynamic performance of the UCAV.     

Distributed intelligent self-organized mission planning of multi-UAV for dynamic targets cooperative search-attack

This article studies the cooperative search-attack mission problem with dynamic targets and threats, and presents a Distributed Intelligent Self-Organized Mission Planning (DISOMP) algorithm for multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (multi-UAV). The DISOMP algorithm can be divided into four modules: a search module designed based on the distributed Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm, an attack module designed based on the Parallel Approach (PA) scheme, a threat avoidance module designed based on the Dubins Curve (DC) and a communication module designed for information exchange among the multi-UAV system and the dynamic environment. A series of simulations of multi-UAV searching and attacking the moving targets are carried out, in which the search-attack mission completeness, execution efficiency and system suitability of the DISOMP algorithm are analyzed. The simulation results exhibit that the DISOMP algorithm based on online distributed down-top strategy is characterized by good flexibility, scalability and adaptability, in the dynamic targets searching and attacking problem.     

Load distribution strategy for multi-lift system with helicopters based on power consumption and robust adaptive game control

It is of great significance to reasonably distribute the slung load to each helicopter while considering difference in power consumption, relative position and interaction comprehensively. Therefore, the load distribution strategy based on power consumption and robust adaptive game control is proposed in this paper. The study is on a “2-lead” multi-lift system of four tandem helicopters carrying a load cooperatively. First, based on the hierarchical control, the load distribution problem is divided into two parts: the calculation of expected cable force and the calculation of the anti-disturbance cable force. Then, aimed at minimizing the maximum equivalent power of helicopter, an optimization problem is set up to calculate the expected cable force. Specially, the agent power model is trained by BP neural network, the safe distance constraint between helicopters is set to 2.5 rotor diameters to reduce aerodynamic interference, and the helicopters with different performance can be considered by introducing the equivalent power factor into the objective function. Next, considering the difference and interaction between helicopters, the robust adaptive differential game control is proposed to calculate the anti-disturbance cable force. Particularly, to solve the coupled Hamiltonian equations, an adaptive solving method for value function is proposed, and its stability is proved in the sense of Lyapunov. The simulation results indicate that the proposed load distribution method based on power consumption is applicable to the entire flight trajectory even there are differences between helicopters. The game control can consider interaction between helicopters, can deal with different objective functions, and has strong robustness and small steady-state error. Based on the entire strategy, the cable force can be reasonably allocated so as to resist disturbance and improve the flight performance of the whole system.     

Structurally coupled characteristics of rotor blade using new rigid-flexible dynamic model based on geometrically exact formulation

In rotor dynamics, blades are normally modelled as a slender beam, in which elastic deformations are coupled with each other. To identify these coupling effects, new rigid-flexible structural model for helicopter rotor system is proposed in this paper. Finite rotations of the whole blade(on flapwise, lagwise, and torsional) are described as three global rigid degrees of freedom.The nonlinear deformation geometrics of the beam is built on geometrically exact beam theory.New expressions for blade ...     

基于3DS MAX模型的无人直升机实时监控系统三维建模

分析OpenGL中三维建模的主要方法,结合共轴式无人直升机实时监控飞行系统的设计需要,得出利用3DS MAX的输出模型进行三维建模可以大大提高效率。分析3DS MAX主要输出文件的结构,指出OpenGL建模所需的要素。设计并实现了3DS MAX到OpenGL的模型转换模块,能够分离出3DS MAX场景中的三维模型,为在实时监控系统中再现3DS模型并构造监控飞行系统的三维场景提供灵活性。     

Design and application of an Electric Tail Rotor Drive Control (ETRDC) for helicopters with performance tests

With the development of electric helicopters’ motor technology and the widespread use of electric drive rotors, more aircraft use electric rotors to provide thrust and directional control. For a helicopter tail rotor, the wake of the main rotor influences the tail rotor’s inflow and wake. In the procedure of controlling, crosswind will also cause changes to the tail disk load. This paper describes requirements and design principles of an electric motor drive and variable pitch tail rotor system. A particular spoke-type architecture of the motor is designed, and the performance of blades is analyzed by the CFD method. The demand for simplicity of moving parts and strict constraints on the weight of a helicopter makes the design of electrical and mechanical components challenging. Different solutions have been investigated to propose an effective alternative to the mechanical actuation system. A test platform is constructed which can collect the dynamic response of the thrust control. The enhancement of the response speed due to an individual motor speed control and variable-pitch system is validated.