Autonomous UAV 3D trajectory optimization and transmission scheduling for sensor data collection on uneven terrains

This paper considers a time-constrained data collection problem from a network of ground sensors located on uneven terrain by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV),a typical Unmanned Aerial System(UAS).The ground sensors harvest renewable energy and are equipped with batteries and data buffers.The ground sensor model takes into account sensor data buffer and battery limitations.An asymptotically globally optimal method of joint UAV 3D trajectory optimization and data transmission schedule is developed.The developed method maximizes the amount of data transmitted to the UAV without losses and too long delays and minimizes the propulsion energy of the UAV.The developed algorithm of optimal trajectory optimization and transmission scheduling is based on dynamic programming.Computer simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Joint 3D Trajectory and Resource Optimization for A UAV Relay-Assisted Cognitive Radio Network

In this paper,we consider a new spectrum sharing scenario for a cognitive relay network,where a secondary unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)relay receives information from the ground secondary base station(SBS)and transmits information to the ground secondary user(SU),coexisting with the primary users(PUs)at the same wireless frequency band.We investigate the optimization of the UAV relay’s three-dimensional(3D)trajectory to improve the communication throughput performance of the secondary network subject to the interference constraints of the PUs.The information throughput maximization problem is studied by jointly optimizing the UAV relay’s 3D trajectory and the transmit power of the SBS and the UAV,subject to the constraints on the velocity and elevation of the UAV relay,the maximum and average transmit power,and the information causality,as well as a set of interference temperature(IT)constraints.An efficient algorithm is proposed to solve the admittedly challenging non-convex problem by using the path discretization technique,the successive convex approximation technique and the alternating optimization method.Finally,simulation results are provided to show that our proposed design outperforms other benchmark schemes in terms of the throughput。

Single-event-camera-based 3D trajectory measurement method for high-speed moving targets

High-speed target three-dimensional[3D]trajectory and velocity measurement methods have important uses in many fields,including explosive debris and rotating specimen trajectory tracking.The conventional approach uses a binocular system with two high-speed cameras to capture the target’s 3D motion information.Hardware cost for the conventional approach is high,and accurately triggering several high-speed cameras is difficult.Event-based cameras have recently received considerable attention due to advantages in dynamic range,temporal resolution,and power consumption.To address problems of camera synchronization difficulties,data redundancy,and motion blur in high-speed target 3D trajectory measurement,this Letter proposes a 3D trajectory measurement method based on a single-event camera and a four-mirror adaptor.The 3D trajectory and velocity of a particle flight process and a marker on a rotating disc were measured with the proposed method,and the results show that the proposed method can monitor the operational state of high-speed flying and rotating objects at a very low hardware cost.

Robust Trajectory and Communication Design for Angle-Constrained Multi-UAV Communications in the Presence of Jammers

This paper studies a multi-unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)enabled wireless communication system,where multiple UAVs are employed to communicate with a group of ground terminals(GTs)in the presence of potential jammers.We aim to maximize the throughput overall GTs by jointly optimizing the UAVs’trajectory,the GTs’scheduling and power allocation.Unlike most prior studies,we consider the UAVs’turning and climbing angle constraints,the UAVs’three-dimensional(3D)trajectory constraints,minimum UAV-to-UAV(U2U)distance constraint,and the GTs’transmit power requirements.However,the formulated problem is a mixed-integer non-convex problem and is intractable to work it out with conventional optimization methods.To tackle this difficulty,we propose an efficient robust iterative algorithm to decompose the original problem be three sub-problems and acquire the suboptimal solution via utilizing the block coordinate descent(BCD)method,successive convex approximation(SCA)technique,and S-procedure.Extensive simulation results show that our proposed robust iterative algorithm offers a substantial gain in the system performance compared with the benchmark algorithms.

Approximate analytical solutions for threedimensional ascent trajectory of a solid-fuel launch vehicle with time-varying mass flow rate

In the scenario that a solid-fuel launch vehicle maneuvers in outer space at high angles of attack and sideslip for energy management,Approximate Analytical Solutions(AAS)for the threedimensional(3D)ascent flight states are derived,which are the only solutions capable of considering time-varying Mass Flow Rate(MFR)at present.The uneven MFR makes the thrust vary nonlinearly and thus increases the difficulty of the problem greatly.The AAS are derived based on a 3D Generalized Ascent Dynamics Model(GADM)with a normalized mass as the independent variable.To simplify some highly nonlinear terms in the GADM,several approximate functions are introduced carefully,while the errors of the approximations relative to the original terms are regarded as minor perturbations.Notably,a finite series with positive and negative exponents,called Exponent-Symmetry Series(ESS),is proposed for function approximation to decrease the highest exponent in the AAS so as to reduce computer round-off errors.To calculate the ESS coefficients,a method of seeking the Optimal Interpolation Points(OIP)is proposed using the leastsquares-approximation theory.Due to the artful design of the approximations,the GADM can be decomposed into two analytically solvable subsystems by a perturbation method,and thus the AAS are obtained successfully.Finally,to help implement the AAS,two indirect methods for measuring the remaining mass and predicting the burnout time in flight are put forward using information from accelerometers.Simulation results verify the superiority of the AAS under the condition of time-varying MFR.