Skip to main content

Autonomous Autorotation of Unmanned Rotorcraft using Nonlinear Model Predictive Control

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Safe operations of unmanned rotorcraft hinge on successfully accommodating failures during flight, either via control reconfiguration or by terminating flight early in a controlled manner. This paper focuses on autorotation, a common maneuver used to bring helicopters safely to the ground even in the case of loss of power to the main rotor. A novel nonlinear model predictive controller augmented with a recurrent neural network is presented that is capable of performing an autonomous autorotation. Main advantages of the proposed approach are on-line, real-time trajectory optimization and reduced hardware requirements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Abbeel, P., Coates, A., Hunter, T., Ng, A.Y.: Autonomous autorotation of an RC helicopter. In: Proc. 11th International Symposium on Experimental Robotics (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Anand, S.: Domestic use of unmanned aircraft systems: evaluation of policy constraints and the role of industry consensus standards. Journal of Engineering and Public Policy 11 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Aponso, B., Bachelder, E., Lee, D.: Automated autorotation for unmanned rotorcraft recovery. Presented at AHS international specialists’ meeting on unmanned rotorcraft (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Carlson, R.: Helicopter performance—transportation’s latest chromosome: the 31st annual Alexander A. Nikolsky lecture. J. Am. Helicopter Soc. 47(1) (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Clothier, R., Walker, R.: Determination and evaluation of UAV safety objectives. In: Proc. 21st International Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems Conference, pp. 18.1–18.16 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Clothier, R., Walker, R., Fulton, N., Campbell, D.: A casualty risk analysis for unmanned aerial system (UAS) operations over inhabited areas. In: Proc. 12th Australian International Aerospace Congress and 2nd Australasian Unmanned Air Vehicles Conference (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dalamagkidis, K., Valavanis, K., Piegl, L.: On Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the National Airspace System: Issues, Challenges, Operational Restrictions, Certification, and Recommendations, Intelligent Systems, Control and Automation: Science and Engineering, vol. 36. Springer, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dooley, L.W., Yeary, R.D.: Flight test evaluation of the high inertia rotor system. Final report for period 21 September 1976–February 1979 USARTL-TR-79-9, Bell Helicopter Textron (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Haddon, D.R., Whittaker, C.J.: UK-CAA policy for light UAV systems. UK Civil Aviation Authority (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hayhurst, K.J., Maddalon, J.M., Miner, P.S., Dewalt, M.P., Mccormick, G.F.: Unmanned aircraft hazards and their implications for regulation. In: Proc. 25th IEEE/AIAA Digital Avionics Systems Conference, pp. 1–12 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hazawa, K., Shin, J., Fujiwara, D., Igarashi, K., Fernando, D., Nonami, K.: Autonomous autorotation landing of small unmanned helicopter. Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers C 70(698), 2862–2869 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Johnson, W.: Helicopter optimal descent and landing after power loss. NASA TM 73244, Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lee, A.Y.N.: Optimal landing of a helicopter in autorotation. Ph.D. thesis, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lee, A.Y.N.: Optimal autorotational descent of a helicopter with control and state inequality constraints. J. Guid. Control Dyn. 13(5), 922–924 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Leishman, J.G.: Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics, 2nd edn. Cambridge Aerospace Series. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Weibel, R.E.: Safety considerations for operation of different classes of unmanned aerial vehicles in the national airspace system. Master’s thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Xia, Y., Wang, J.: A recurrent neural network for nonlinear convex optimization subject to nonlinear inequality constraints. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I 51(7), 1385–1394 (2004). doi:10.1109/TCSI.2004.830694

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  18. Xia, Y., Wang, J.: A recurrent neural network for solving nonlinear convex programs subject to linear constraints. IEEE Trans. Neural Netw. 16(2), 379–386 (2005). doi:10.1109/TNN.2004.841779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Xia, Y., Leung, H., Wang, J.: A projection neural network and its application to constrained optimization problems. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I 49(4), 447–458 (2002). doi:10.1109/81.995659

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  20. Xia, Y., Feng, G., Kamel, M.: Development and analysis of a neural dynamical approach to nonlinear programming problems. IEEE Trans. Automat. Contr. 52(11), 2154–2159 (2007). doi:10.1109/TAC.2007.908342

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Konstantinos Dalamagkidis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Dalamagkidis, K., Valavanis, K.P., Piegl, L.A. (2009). Autonomous Autorotation of Unmanned Rotorcraft using Nonlinear Model Predictive Control. In: Valavanis, K.P., Beard, R., Oh, P., Ollero, A., Piegl, L.A., Shim, H. (eds) Selected papers from the 2nd International Symposium on UAVs, Reno, Nevada, U.S.A. June 8–10, 2009. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8764-5_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8764-5_18

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8763-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-90-481-8764-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics