Towards Autonomous Operation of UAVs Using Data-Driven Target Tracking and Dynamic, Distributed Path Planning Methods

A hybrid real-time path planning method has been developed that employs data-driven target UAV trajectory tracking methods. It aims to autonomously manage the distributed operation of multiple UAVs in dynamically changing environments. The target tracking methods include a Gaussian mixture model, a long short-term memory network, and extended Kalman filters with pre-specified motion models. Real-time vehicle-to-vehicle communication is assumed through a cloud-based system, enabling virtual, dynamic local networks to facilitate the high demand of vehicles in airspace. The method generates optimal paths by adaptively employing the dynamic $A*$ algorithm and the artificial potential field method, with minimum snap trajectory smoothing to enhance path trackability during real flights. For validation, software-in-the-loop testing is performed in a dynamic environment composed of multiple quadrotors. The results demonstrate the framework’s ability to generate real-time, collision-free flight paths at low computational costs.