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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering
Experiments In Cooperative Timing For Miniature Air Vehicles, Derek R. Nelson, Timothy W. Mclain, Randal W. Beard
Experiments In Cooperative Timing For Miniature Air Vehicles, Derek R. Nelson, Timothy W. Mclain, Randal W. Beard
Faculty Publications
This paper presents experimental results for two cooperative timing missions carried out using a team of three miniature air vehicles (MAVs). Using a cooperative timing algorithm based on coordination functions and coordination variables, the MAV team executed a series of simultaneous arrival and cooperative fly-by missions. In the presence of significant wind disturbances, the average time difference between the first and last vehicle in the simultaneous arrival experiments was 1.6 s. For the cooperative fly-by experiments, the average timing error between vehicle arrivals was 0.6 s. These results demonstrate the practical feasibility of the cooperative timing approach.
Obstacle Avoidance Using Circular Paths, Timothy Mclain, Randal W. Beard, Jeffery Brian Saunders
Obstacle Avoidance Using Circular Paths, Timothy Mclain, Randal W. Beard, Jeffery Brian Saunders
Faculty Publications
This paper develops a method of obstacle avoidance for fixed-wing miniature air vehicles (MAV) using a series of circular oscillating paths and a single point laser ranger. The laser ranger is a low power, light-weight device used to report the distance to an object in a single direction of the body frame of a MAV. The oscillating paths allow the laser ranger to scan for obstacles and possible escape paths for the MAV in the case of obstacle detection. The circular paths are generated along waypoint paths and transition between waypoint paths without loss of scanning capabilities. Obstacle avoidance is …
Vision-Based Landing Of Fixed-Wing Miniature Air Vehicles, Blake Barber, Timothy Mclain, Barrett Edwards
Vision-Based Landing Of Fixed-Wing Miniature Air Vehicles, Blake Barber, Timothy Mclain, Barrett Edwards
Faculty Publications
This paper outlines a method for using vision-based feedback to accurately land a MAV on a visually identifiable target of approximately known location. The method presented is robust to wind, capable of handling both stationary and moving targets, and capable of cor- recting for camera misalignment, state estimation biases, and parameter estimation biases. Landing results from actual flight tests are presented which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
An Overview Of Mav Research At Brigham Young University, Timothy W. Mclain, Randal W. Beard, D. Blake Barber, Nathan B. Knoebel
An Overview Of Mav Research At Brigham Young University, Timothy W. Mclain, Randal W. Beard, D. Blake Barber, Nathan B. Knoebel
Faculty Publications
This paper summarizes research efforts at Brigham Young University related to the control of miniature aerial vehicles (MAVs). Recent results in the areas of vector field path following, precision landing and target prosecution, target localization, obstacle detection and avoidance, tailsitter aircraft control, and cooperative control are presented.
Probabilistic Searching Using A Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Steven R. Hansen, Timothy W. Mclain, Michael A. Goodrich
Probabilistic Searching Using A Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Steven R. Hansen, Timothy W. Mclain, Michael A. Goodrich
Faculty Publications
Ground breaking concepts in optimal search theory were developed during World War II by the U.S. Navy. These concepts use an assumed detection model to calculate a detection probability rate and an optimal search allocation. Although this theory is useful in determining when and where search effort should be applied, it offers little guidance for the planning of search paths. This paper explains how search theory can be applied to path planning for an SUAV with a fixed CCD camera. Three search strategies are developed: greedy search, contour search, and composite search. In addition, the concepts of search efficiency and …
Autonomous Landing Of Miniature Aerial Vehicles, D. Blake Barber, Stephen R. Griffiths, Timothy W. Mclain, Randal W. Beard
Autonomous Landing Of Miniature Aerial Vehicles, D. Blake Barber, Stephen R. Griffiths, Timothy W. Mclain, Randal W. Beard
Faculty Publications
This paper outlines an approach for automated landing of miniature aerial vehicles (MAVs). A landing algorithm defining the landing flight path as a function of height above ground, and the control strategies for following the path, are described. Two methods are presented for estimating height above ground, one based on barometric pressure measurements and the other utilizing optic-flow measurements. The development of an optic-flow sensor and associated sampling strategies are described. Utilizing estimates of height above ground from barometric pressure and optic-flow measurements, repeated landings were performed with a 1.5 m wingspan MAV. With height above ground estimated from barometric …