A ‘No-Flow-Sensor’ Wind Estimation Algorithm for Unmanned Aerial Systems

A ‘no-flow-sensor’ wind estimation algorithm for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is presented. It is based on ground speed and flight path azimuth information from the autopilot's GPS system. The algorithm has been tested with the help of the simulation option in the Paparazzi autopilot software...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of micro air vehicles 2012-03, Vol.4 (1), p.15-29
Main Authors: Mayer, Stephanie, Hattenberger, Gautier, Brisset, Pascal, Jonassen, Marius O., Reuder, Joachim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerials
Aircraft
Algorithms
Atmospherics
Automatic
Automatic pilots
Computer programs
Computer simulation
Data sampling
Diameters
Engineering Sciences
Ground speed
Post-production processing
Radiosondes
Sampling methods
Sensors
Unmanned
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Wind profiles
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Summary:A ‘no-flow-sensor’ wind estimation algorithm for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) is presented. It is based on ground speed and flight path azimuth information from the autopilot's GPS system. The algorithm has been tested with the help of the simulation option in the Paparazzi autopilot software using artificial wind profiles. The retrieval accuracy of the predefined profiles by the wind algorithm and its sensitivity to vertical aircraft velocity, diameter of the helical flight pattern and different data sampling methods have been investigated. The algorithm with a correspondingly optimized set of parameters is then applied to various scientific flight missions under real wind conditions performed by the UAS SUMO (Small Unmanned Meteorological Observer). The SUMO wind profiles are compared to measurements of conventional atmospheric profiling systems as radiosondes and piloted balloons. In general, the presented ‘no-flow-sensor’ wind estimation method performs well in most atmospheric situations and is now operationally used in the post-processing routine for wind profile determination from SUMO measurements.
ISSN:1756-8293
1756-8307
DOI:10.1260/1756-8293.4.1.15