Voronoi-based distributed formation control method of stratospheric aerostat for area coverage

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Voronoi-based distributed formation control method of stratospheric aerostat for area coverage
Authors: F. Bai, X. Yang, X. Deng, Z. Hou
Source: The Aeronautical Journal. 129:1647-1664
Publisher Information: Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Description: Station-keeping control is a critical technology for stratospheric aerostats. For those aerostats that utilise wind field environments to achieve trajectory control, the station-keeping capability of a single aerostat is inherently limited. This limitation can lead to instances of the aerostat flying outside the designated task area, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of station-keeping control. To ensure continuous monitoring of the restricted area for long endurance, dynamic adjustments and cooperative coverage among multiple aerostats are necessary. This paper introduces an optimal coverage algorithm based on Voronoi diagrams and presents a formation control method for stratospheric aerostats that employs the virtual force method and the ${A^{\rm{*}}}$ algorithm, respectively. In a real wind field environment, ten aerostats are deployed to optimally cover the restricted area. Simulation results indicate that the coverage rate of the stratospheric aerostats within the restricted area can exceed 70%, while the network connectivity rate among the aerostats can reach 80% following guidance control during return flights. Furthermore, the stratospheric aerostats that flying out of the restricted area can return through path planning and optimal coverage algorithm, and the networking connectivity rate between aerostats is higher than that using the virtual force method.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
ISSN: 2059-6464
0001-9240
DOI: 10.1017/aer.2024.149
Rights: Cambridge Core User Agreement
Accession Number: edsair.doi...........8694fb65e92f3cfbe736ad53f9c89c3d
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:Station-keeping control is a critical technology for stratospheric aerostats. For those aerostats that utilise wind field environments to achieve trajectory control, the station-keeping capability of a single aerostat is inherently limited. This limitation can lead to instances of the aerostat flying outside the designated task area, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of station-keeping control. To ensure continuous monitoring of the restricted area for long endurance, dynamic adjustments and cooperative coverage among multiple aerostats are necessary. This paper introduces an optimal coverage algorithm based on Voronoi diagrams and presents a formation control method for stratospheric aerostats that employs the virtual force method and the ${A^{\rm{*}}}$ algorithm, respectively. In a real wind field environment, ten aerostats are deployed to optimally cover the restricted area. Simulation results indicate that the coverage rate of the stratospheric aerostats within the restricted area can exceed 70%, while the network connectivity rate among the aerostats can reach 80% following guidance control during return flights. Furthermore, the stratospheric aerostats that flying out of the restricted area can return through path planning and optimal coverage algorithm, and the networking connectivity rate between aerostats is higher than that using the virtual force method.
ISSN:20596464
00019240
DOI:10.1017/aer.2024.149