Distributed filtering over sensor networks for autonomous navigation of UAVs

• Authors: Gerasimos G. Rigatos
• Venue: Intelligent Service Robotics
• Year: 2012

The paper studies the problem of localization and autonomous navigation of a multi-UAV system with the use of Distributed Filtering methods (DF). It is considered that m UAV (helicopter) models are monitored by n different ground stations. The overall concept is that at each monitoring station a filter is used to track each UAV by fusing measurements which are provided by various UAV sensors, while by fusing the state estimates from the distributed local filters an aggregate state estimate for each UAV is obtained. In particular, the paper proposes first the extended information filter (EIF) and the unscented information filter (UIF) as possible approaches for fusing the state estimates provided by the local monitoring stations, under the assumption of Gaussian noises. The EIF and UIF estimated state vector is in turn used by a flatness-based controller that makes the UAV follow the desirable trajectory. Moreover, the distributed particle filter (DPF) is proposed for fusing the state estimates provided by the local monitoring stations (local filters). The motivation for using DPF is that it is well-suited to accommodate non-Gaussian measurements. The DPF estimated state vector is again used by the flatness-based controller to make each UAV follow a desirable flight path. Finally, a derivative-free implementation of the extended information filter (DEIF) is introduced aiming at obtaining more accurate estimates of the UAV state vector in real-time. The performance of the EIF, of the UIF, of the DPF and of the DEIF is evaluated through simulation experiments in the case of a 2-UAV model monitored and remotely navigated by two local stations.