Vector Field-Based Robust Quadrotor Landing on a Moving Ground Platform

The autonomous landing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on moving platforms has potential applications across various domains. However, robust landing remains challenging because the detection reliability of UAVs decreases when the UAV is close to a moving platform. To address this issue, this pap...

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Main Authors: Woohyun Byun, Soobin Huh, Hyeokjae Jang, Suhyeong Yu, Sungwon Lim, Seokwon Lee, Woochul Nam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Aerospace
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/7/590
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author Woohyun Byun
Soobin Huh
Hyeokjae Jang
Suhyeong Yu
Sungwon Lim
Seokwon Lee
Woochul Nam
author_facet Woohyun Byun
Soobin Huh
Hyeokjae Jang
Suhyeong Yu
Sungwon Lim
Seokwon Lee
Woochul Nam
author_sort Woohyun Byun
collection DOAJ
description The autonomous landing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on moving platforms has potential applications across various domains. However, robust landing remains challenging because the detection reliability of UAVs decreases when the UAV is close to a moving platform. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel landing strategy that ensures a high detection rate. First, a robust detectable region was established by considering the sensing range and maneuverability limitations of the UAV. Second, a vector field was designed to guide the UAV to the moving platform while remaining in a robust detectable region. Next, safe and accurate landings were achieved by considering the current velocity and vector field. The landing strategy was validated through outdoor flight experiments. A quadrotor equipped with a gimbal-mounted camera was used, and a fractal marker was attached to the moving platform for detection and tracking. When the moving platform moved at a speed of 2–4.3 m/s, the UAV successfully landed on the platform with a distance error of 0.4 m. Because of the robust detectable region and vector field, the detection was conducted with a high success rate (94.9%).
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institution Kabale University
issn 2226-4310
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Aerospace
spelling doaj-art-705aad059e5e41a8ac45772e2c1f01f92025-08-20T03:36:18ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102025-06-0112759010.3390/aerospace12070590Vector Field-Based Robust Quadrotor Landing on a Moving Ground PlatformWoohyun Byun0Soobin Huh1Hyeokjae Jang2Suhyeong Yu3Sungwon Lim4Seokwon Lee5Woochul Nam6Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaThe autonomous landing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on moving platforms has potential applications across various domains. However, robust landing remains challenging because the detection reliability of UAVs decreases when the UAV is close to a moving platform. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel landing strategy that ensures a high detection rate. First, a robust detectable region was established by considering the sensing range and maneuverability limitations of the UAV. Second, a vector field was designed to guide the UAV to the moving platform while remaining in a robust detectable region. Next, safe and accurate landings were achieved by considering the current velocity and vector field. The landing strategy was validated through outdoor flight experiments. A quadrotor equipped with a gimbal-mounted camera was used, and a fractal marker was attached to the moving platform for detection and tracking. When the moving platform moved at a speed of 2–4.3 m/s, the UAV successfully landed on the platform with a distance error of 0.4 m. Because of the robust detectable region and vector field, the detection was conducted with a high success rate (94.9%).https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/7/590unmanned aerial vehicleautonomous landingmoving platformrobust detectable regionvector field
spellingShingle Woohyun Byun
Soobin Huh
Hyeokjae Jang
Suhyeong Yu
Sungwon Lim
Seokwon Lee
Woochul Nam
Vector Field-Based Robust Quadrotor Landing on a Moving Ground Platform
Aerospace
unmanned aerial vehicle
autonomous landing
moving platform
robust detectable region
vector field
title Vector Field-Based Robust Quadrotor Landing on a Moving Ground Platform
title_full Vector Field-Based Robust Quadrotor Landing on a Moving Ground Platform
title_fullStr Vector Field-Based Robust Quadrotor Landing on a Moving Ground Platform
title_full_unstemmed Vector Field-Based Robust Quadrotor Landing on a Moving Ground Platform
title_short Vector Field-Based Robust Quadrotor Landing on a Moving Ground Platform
title_sort vector field based robust quadrotor landing on a moving ground platform
topic unmanned aerial vehicle
autonomous landing
moving platform
robust detectable region
vector field
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/7/590
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AT soobinhuh vectorfieldbasedrobustquadrotorlandingonamovinggroundplatform
AT hyeokjaejang vectorfieldbasedrobustquadrotorlandingonamovinggroundplatform
AT suhyeongyu vectorfieldbasedrobustquadrotorlandingonamovinggroundplatform
AT sungwonlim vectorfieldbasedrobustquadrotorlandingonamovinggroundplatform
AT seokwonlee vectorfieldbasedrobustquadrotorlandingonamovinggroundplatform
AT woochulnam vectorfieldbasedrobustquadrotorlandingonamovinggroundplatform