Quadcopter Aggressive Maneuvers along Singular Configurations: An Energy-Quaternion Based Approach

• Main Authors: Ayman A. El-Badawy, Mohamed A. Bakr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2016-01-01
• Series: Journal of Control Science and Engineering
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7324540

Automatic aggressive maneuvers with quadcopters are regarded as a highly challenging control problem. The aim is to tackle the singularities that exist in a vertical looping maneuver. Modeling singularities are resolved by writing the equations-of-motion of the quadcopter in quaternion form. Physical singularities due to underactuation are resolved by using an energy-based control. Energy-based control is utilized to overcome the uncontrollability of the quadcopter at physical singular configurations, for instance, when commanding the quadcopter to gain altitude while pitched at 90∘. Three looping strategies (circular, clothoidal, and newly developed constant thrust) are implemented on a nonlinear model of the quadcopter. The three looping strategies are discussed along with their advantages and limitations.