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A vision-based auxiliary system of multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles for autonomous rendezvous and docking

  • Dexing Zhong
  • , Xuefei Zhang
  • , Haotian Sun
  • , Zhigang Ren
  • , Jiuqiang Han
  • Xi'an Jiaotong University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are versatile in maneuverability for both civilian and military applications. To facilitate the long-term tasks of UAVs, autonomous rendezvous and docking (ARaD) will be a need in the emerging field of UAV research. In this paper, we proposed a vision-based auxiliary system (VAS) for multirotor UAVs to implement autonomous rendezvous and docking. The VAS consists of image acquisition and processing unit, wireless communication unit, and tracking and docking control unit. Continuously adaptive mean shift (CamShift) algorithm was applied for tracking the target and obtaining its 3D coordinates. A specific Zigbee protocol was designed to ensure the steady and rapid transmission of status data between UAVs and the ground station. A straight-forward tracking and docking control algorithm was proposed to assist the rendezvous and docking between the two UAVs. Physical simulation experiments were performed by two six-rotor rotorcrafts, which demonstrate the feasibility and practicability of our proposed vision-based auxiliary system for the future application.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2016 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks, IJCNN 2016
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages4586-4592
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781509006199
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 Oct 2016
Event2016 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks, IJCNN 2016 - Vancouver, Canada
Duration: 24 Jul 201629 Jul 2016

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Joint Conference on Neural Networks
Volume2016-October

Conference

Conference2016 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks, IJCNN 2016
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityVancouver
Period24/07/1629/07/16

Keywords

  • Automatic refueling
  • Camshift
  • Tracking
  • UAVs
  • Wireless communication

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