Aerial vehicle localization using generic landmarks

Mark P. Deangelo, Joseph F. Horn

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This research presents a new method to localize an aircraft without GPS using fixed, generic landmarks observed from an optical sensor. Computer vision object detectors are trained to detect abundant generic landmarks referred as buildings, fields, trees, and road intersections from aerial perspectives. Various landmark attributes and spatial relationships to other landmarks are used to help associate observed landmarks with reference landmarks, which are processed offline before a flight. During a flight, the aircraft navigates with attitude, heading, airspeed, and altitude measurements and obtains measurement corrections by processing aerial photos with similar generic landmark detection techniques. Landmark coordinates extracted from the aircraft’s camera images and inertial measurements are combined into an unscented Kalman filter to obtain an estimate of the aircraft’s position and wind velocities. The objective is to achieve practical navigation performance using available autopilot hardware and a downward pointing camera. The method is demonstrated with an airplane simulation and high resolution orthoimagery. The simulations indicate feasible localization results for outdoor visual flight conditions. Finally, real world flight test results demonstrate localization accuracy within two feet for a quad-rotor flying in an indoor lab at an altitude of ten feet.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, 2017
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
ISBN (Print)9781624104503
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
EventAIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, 2017 - Grapevine, United States
Duration: Jan 9 2017Jan 13 2017

Publication series

NameAIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, 2017

Other

OtherAIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityGrapevine
Period1/9/171/13/17

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering

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