An algorithm for real time estimation of the flexible UAV structural motions using a video-based system

Author

Baraniello, Vincenzo Rosario ; Cicala, Marco ; Cicala, Marco

Author_Institution

GN&C Dept., Italian Aerosp. Res. Center, Capua, Italy

fYear

2011

fDate

5-8 July 2011

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

8

Abstract

This paper focuses on the application of a vision based system coupled with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and several accelerometers, distributed along the aircraft structure, to estimate the structural displacements showed by flexible aircrafts. This sensor suite, associated with the proposed data fusion algorithm, represents an innovative approach to solve the problem of structural displacements determination for flexible aircrafts. The knowledge of the aircraft actual shape allows implementing active control techniques, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and moreover to determine the true position and attitude of sensors, installed on board. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through numerical simulations.

Keywords

accelerometers; aircraft; condition monitoring; motion estimation; remotely operated vehicles; sensor fusion; structural engineering; accelerometers; active control techniques; aircraft structure; data fusion algorithm; flexible UAV structural motions; flexible aircrafts; inertial measurement unit; numerical simulations; real time estimation; structural displacements determination; structural displacements estimation; structural health monitoring; video-based system; vision based system; Accelerometers; Aircraft; Bridges; Cameras; Global Positioning System; Light emitting diodes; Machine vision; Kalman filtering; Structural Motions Estimation; UAV;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Information Fusion (FUSION), 2011 Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on

Conference_Location

Chicago, IL

Print_ISBN

978-1-4577-0267-9

Type

conf

Filename

5977566