Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors

David John Broderick; Adrian Mateusz Felczak; Christopher Glenn Wilson

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12

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Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors

David John Broderick, Adrian Mateusz Felczak, Christopher Glenn Wilson

Published in Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Volume 6, Issue 5)

Received: 16 October 2018 Accepted: 31 October 2018 Published: 26 November 2018

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Abstract

Accurately estimating the position and orientation is critical for the control systems of both airborne and ground-based unmanned vehicles. In many cases, GPS-derived data provides a suitable absolute measurement. Unfortunately, many unmanned vehicles may have to operate in GPS-denied environments, thus a suitable method for obtaining an absolute attitude measurement is highly desired. Thermal emissivity sensors have been experimentally shown to successfully estimate pose of airborne vehicles at high altitude or during continuously rolling maneuvers. Previous work has shown through simulation that the roll angle can be estimated with the vehicle orientation static using three or four thermal emissivity sensor arrays. The closed form estimation method previously presented for three and four sensor arrays is expanded to a six-sensor array. An array of eight sensors is developed to allow for simultaneous experimental data collection for all three arrays. The data is collected in a realistic and non-ideal environment and then processed with the proposed estimation algorithm for each of the three arrays. The results demonstrate that three-sensor arrays do allow for estimation of roll angle, with improved error bounds for increasing number of sensors in the array. Thus, low altitude absolute roll estimation is possible with a thermal emissivity sensor array and may be suitable for certain applications.

Published in	Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Volume 6, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12
Page(s)	129-134
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Pose Estimation, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Gps-Denied, Thermopile

References

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[2]	D. J. Broderick, J. Britt, D. M. Bevly, and J. Y. Hung, “Simple calibration for vehicle pose estimation using gaussian processes,” in Proceedings of Institute of Navigation (ION) 2011 International Technical Meeting (ITM), 2011.
[3]	D. Dusha, W. Boles, and R. Walker, “Attitude estimation for a fixed-wing aircraft using horizon detection and optical flow,” in Digital Image Computing Techniques and Applications, 9th Biennial Conference of the Australian Pattern Recognition Society on, Dec 2007, pp. 485–492.
[4]	“Spacecraft earth horizon sensors,” NASA, Tech. Rep. SP-8033, December 1969.
[5]	P. Duchon and M. Vermande, “Attitude measurement principles and sensors,” National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Tech. Rep., 1981.
[6]	T. Nguyen, “Attitude determination using infrared earth horizon sensors,” in 28th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, 2014.
[7]	H. Tokutake, M. Kuribara, Y. Yuasa, K. Tanimoto, H. Seki, and T. Suzuki, “Attitude sensing system using photodetectors,” in International Workshop on Instruction for Planetary Missions, 2012, pp. 1022–1024.
[8]	H. M. Van Rensburg, “An infrared earth horizon sensor for a leo satellite,” Ph. D. dissertation, Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch, 2008.
[9]	J. McBride, “Flight control system for small high-performance uavs,” Master’s thesis, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010.
[10]	G. Egan and B. Taylor, “The use of infrared sensors for absolute attitude determination of unmanned aerial vehicles,” Monash University, Tech. Rep., 2006.
[11]	The paparazzi project (http://paparazzi.enac.fr).
[12]	J. Rogers and M. Costello, “Design of a roll-stabilized mortar projectile with reciprocating canards,” J Guid. Contr. Dynam, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 1026–1034, 2010.
[13]	J. Rogers, M. Costello, and D. Hepner, “Roll orientation estimator for smart projectiles using thermopile sensors,” Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics, vol. 34, no. 3, p. 688, 2011.
[14]	J. Rogers and M. Costello, “A low-cost orientation estimator for smart projectiles using magnetometers and thermopiles,” Navigation, 2012.
[15]	D. J. Broderick and C. G. Wilson, "Roll angle estimation of airborne vehicles using the minimal array of atmospheric temperature sensors." Systems, Applications and Technology Conference (LISAT), 2015 IEEE Long Island. IEEE, 2015.

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APA Style

David John Broderick, Adrian Mateusz Felczak, Christopher Glenn Wilson. (2018). Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors. Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 6(5), 129-134. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12

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ACS Style

David John Broderick; Adrian Mateusz Felczak; Christopher Glenn Wilson. Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors. J. Electr. Electron. Eng. 2018, 6(5), 129-134. doi: 10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12

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AMA Style

David John Broderick, Adrian Mateusz Felczak, Christopher Glenn Wilson. Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors. J Electr Electron Eng. 2018;6(5):129-134. doi: 10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12

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@article{10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12,
  author = {David John Broderick and Adrian Mateusz Felczak and Christopher Glenn Wilson},
  title = {Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors},
  journal = {Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering},
  volume = {6},
  number = {5},
  pages = {129-134},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeee.20180605.12},
  abstract = {Accurately estimating the position and orientation is critical for the control systems of both airborne and ground-based unmanned vehicles. In many cases, GPS-derived data provides a suitable absolute measurement. Unfortunately, many unmanned vehicles may have to operate in GPS-denied environments, thus a suitable method for obtaining an absolute attitude measurement is highly desired. Thermal emissivity sensors have been experimentally shown to successfully estimate pose of airborne vehicles at high altitude or during continuously rolling maneuvers. Previous work has shown through simulation that the roll angle can be estimated with the vehicle orientation static using three or four thermal emissivity sensor arrays. The closed form estimation method previously presented for three and four sensor arrays is expanded to a six-sensor array. An array of eight sensors is developed to allow for simultaneous experimental data collection for all three arrays. The data is collected in a realistic and non-ideal environment and then processed with the proposed estimation algorithm for each of the three arrays. The results demonstrate that three-sensor arrays do allow for estimation of roll angle, with improved error bounds for increasing number of sensors in the array. Thus, low altitude absolute roll estimation is possible with a thermal emissivity sensor array and may be suitable for certain applications.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors
AU  - David John Broderick
AU  - Adrian Mateusz Felczak
AU  - Christopher Glenn Wilson
Y1  - 2018/11/26
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12
T2  - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
JF  - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
JO  - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
SP  - 129
EP  - 134
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2329-1605
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12
AB  - Accurately estimating the position and orientation is critical for the control systems of both airborne and ground-based unmanned vehicles. In many cases, GPS-derived data provides a suitable absolute measurement. Unfortunately, many unmanned vehicles may have to operate in GPS-denied environments, thus a suitable method for obtaining an absolute attitude measurement is highly desired. Thermal emissivity sensors have been experimentally shown to successfully estimate pose of airborne vehicles at high altitude or during continuously rolling maneuvers. Previous work has shown through simulation that the roll angle can be estimated with the vehicle orientation static using three or four thermal emissivity sensor arrays. The closed form estimation method previously presented for three and four sensor arrays is expanded to a six-sensor array. An array of eight sensors is developed to allow for simultaneous experimental data collection for all three arrays. The data is collected in a realistic and non-ideal environment and then processed with the proposed estimation algorithm for each of the three arrays. The results demonstrate that three-sensor arrays do allow for estimation of roll angle, with improved error bounds for increasing number of sensors in the array. Thus, low altitude absolute roll estimation is possible with a thermal emissivity sensor array and may be suitable for certain applications.
VL  - 6
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

David John Broderick

Computer Electronics & Graphics Technology Department, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, USA
Adrian Mateusz Felczak

Computer Electronics & Graphics Technology Department, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, USA
Christopher Glenn Wilson

Technology Services Corporation, Huntsville, USA

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

David John Broderick, Adrian Mateusz Felczak, Christopher Glenn Wilson. (2018). Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors. Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 6(5), 129-134. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

David John Broderick; Adrian Mateusz Felczak; Christopher Glenn Wilson. Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors. J. Electr. Electron. Eng. 2018, 6(5), 129-134. doi: 10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

David John Broderick, Adrian Mateusz Felczak, Christopher Glenn Wilson. Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors. J Electr Electron Eng. 2018;6(5):129-134. doi: 10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12,
  author = {David John Broderick and Adrian Mateusz Felczak and Christopher Glenn Wilson},
  title = {Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors},
  journal = {Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering},
  volume = {6},
  number = {5},
  pages = {129-134},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeee.20180605.12},
  abstract = {Accurately estimating the position and orientation is critical for the control systems of both airborne and ground-based unmanned vehicles. In many cases, GPS-derived data provides a suitable absolute measurement. Unfortunately, many unmanned vehicles may have to operate in GPS-denied environments, thus a suitable method for obtaining an absolute attitude measurement is highly desired. Thermal emissivity sensors have been experimentally shown to successfully estimate pose of airborne vehicles at high altitude or during continuously rolling maneuvers. Previous work has shown through simulation that the roll angle can be estimated with the vehicle orientation static using three or four thermal emissivity sensor arrays. The closed form estimation method previously presented for three and four sensor arrays is expanded to a six-sensor array. An array of eight sensors is developed to allow for simultaneous experimental data collection for all three arrays. The data is collected in a realistic and non-ideal environment and then processed with the proposed estimation algorithm for each of the three arrays. The results demonstrate that three-sensor arrays do allow for estimation of roll angle, with improved error bounds for increasing number of sensors in the array. Thus, low altitude absolute roll estimation is possible with a thermal emissivity sensor array and may be suitable for certain applications.},
 year = {2018}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Experimental Validation of Roll Angle Estimates Using Atmospheric Temperature Sensors
AU  - David John Broderick
AU  - Adrian Mateusz Felczak
AU  - Christopher Glenn Wilson
Y1  - 2018/11/26
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12
T2  - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
JF  - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
JO  - Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
SP  - 129
EP  - 134
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2329-1605
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeee.20180605.12
AB  - Accurately estimating the position and orientation is critical for the control systems of both airborne and ground-based unmanned vehicles. In many cases, GPS-derived data provides a suitable absolute measurement. Unfortunately, many unmanned vehicles may have to operate in GPS-denied environments, thus a suitable method for obtaining an absolute attitude measurement is highly desired. Thermal emissivity sensors have been experimentally shown to successfully estimate pose of airborne vehicles at high altitude or during continuously rolling maneuvers. Previous work has shown through simulation that the roll angle can be estimated with the vehicle orientation static using three or four thermal emissivity sensor arrays. The closed form estimation method previously presented for three and four sensor arrays is expanded to a six-sensor array. An array of eight sensors is developed to allow for simultaneous experimental data collection for all three arrays. The data is collected in a realistic and non-ideal environment and then processed with the proposed estimation algorithm for each of the three arrays. The results demonstrate that three-sensor arrays do allow for estimation of roll angle, with improved error bounds for increasing number of sensors in the array. Thus, low altitude absolute roll estimation is possible with a thermal emissivity sensor array and may be suitable for certain applications.
VL  - 6
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download