Circular Formation Guidance of Fixed-Wing UAVs Using Mesh Network

Abstract

This paper presents the guidance algorithm for the circular formation flight of multiple fixed-wing UAVs. The formation guidance law aims at reducing both the radial and the phase angle error with respect to the moving reference point located at a fixed distance from the leader UAV. To this end, the proposed guidance law generates the desired course angle and the inertial speed commands for each follower UAV. The control commands are then converted to the roll angle and the airspeed commands for the autopilot. The theoretical stability proof is rigorously analyzed via the Lyaupunov method. The performance of the proposed control law is compared with the existing vector-field formation guidance scheme via numerical simulation. After the extensive validation using the hardware-in-the-loop simulation environment which includes the mesh network communication system, the flight test are performed to demonstrate not only the performance of the proposed algorithm but also the robustness to the wind disturbance.

Keywords

• Multiple fixed-wing UAVs
• circular formation
• formation guidance
• sliding mode control
• mesh network
• hardware-in-the-loop-simulation