NLGA-based detection and isolation of actuator and sensor faults for quadrotors

This paper addresses the Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) of the problem of multiple non-concurrent faults on actuator and sensor of quadrotors, which is described by a nonlinear model. To the best of authors´ knowledge, this paper provides, for the first time, a solution to the FDI problem for quadrotors affected by both actuator and sensor faults. The literature proposes FDI schemes dedicated only to actuators or only to sensors, indeed. The Non Linear Geometric Approach is based on the mathematical model of the system and allows to determine detection filters sensitive to a selected set of fault and structurally decoupled from the other faults (out of the selected set) thus providing the base for the fault isolation. Several simulation trials have been performed and the analysis of the results proves that the developed diagnostic system represents an effective solution to the problem of multiple actuator and sensor fault detection and isolation for quadrotors.