Unmanned aircraft systems as wingmen

Abstract

This paper introduces a method to integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) into a highly functional manned/unmanned team through the design and implementation of 3D distributed formation/flight control algorithms with the goal to act as wingmen for a manned aircraft. The proposed algorithms are designed to increase UAS autonomy, dynamically modify formations, utilize standard operating formations to reduce pilot resistance to integration, and support splinter groups for surveillance and/or as safeguards between potential threats and manned vehicles. The proposed work coordinates UAS members by utilizing artificial potential functions whose values are based on the state of the unmanned and manned assets including the desired formation, obstacles, task assignments, and perceived intentions. The overall unmanned team geometry is controlled using weighted potential fields. Individual UASs utilize fuzzy logic controllers for stability and navigation as well as a fuzzy reasoning engine for predicting the intent of surrounding aircrafts. Approaches are demonstrated in simulation using the commercial simulator X-Plane and controllers designed in Matlab/Simulink. Experiments include staggered trail and right echelon formations as well as splinter group surveillance.