Flight Vehicle Control and Aerobiological Sampling Applications

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dc.contributor.authorTechy, Laszloen
dc.contributor.committeechairWoolsey, Craig A.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairSchmale, David G. IIIen
dc.contributor.committeememberStilwell, Daniel J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSultan, Cornelen
dc.contributor.committeememberHall, Christopher D.en
dc.contributor.departmentAerospace and Ocean Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:18:47Zen
dc.date.adate2009-12-07en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:18:47Zen
dc.date.issued2009-11-05en
dc.date.rdate2009-12-07en
dc.date.sdate2009-11-19en
dc.description.abstractAerobiological sampling using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is an exciting research field blending various scientific and engineering disciplines. The biological data collected using UAVs helps to better understand the atmospheric transport of microorganisms. Autopilot-equipped UAVs can accurately sample along pre-defined flight plans and precisely regulated altitudes. They can provide even greater utility when they are networked together in coordinated sampling missions: such measurements can yield further information about the aerial transport process. In this work flight vehicle path planning, control and coordination strategies are considered for unmanned autonomous aerial vehicles. A time-optimal path planning algorithm, that is simple enough to be solved in real time, is derived based on geometric concepts. The method yields closed-form solution for an important subset of candidate extremal paths; the rest of the paths are found using a simple numerical root-finding algorithm. A multi-UAV coordination framework is applied to a specific control-volume sampling problem that supports aerobiological data-collection efforts conducted in the lower atmosphere. The work is part of a larger effort that focuses on the validation of atmospheric dispersion models developed to predict the spread of plant diseases in the lower atmosphere. The developed concepts and methods are demonstrated by field experiments focusing on the spread of the plant pathogen <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-11192009-122014en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11192009-122014/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/29680en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartTechy_Laszlo_Dissertation_Nov2009.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAerobiological Samplingen
dc.subjectTime-Optimal Pathen
dc.subjectCoordinated Controlen
dc.subjectPath Planningen
dc.subjectUnmanned Aerial Vehicleen
dc.titleFlight Vehicle Control and Aerobiological Sampling Applicationsen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineAerospace and Ocean Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en
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