Adaptive Traction Drive Control Algorithm for Electrical Energy Consumption Minimisation of Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Abstract The paper aims at researching and developing an adaptive control system algorithm and its implementation and integration in the control system of the existing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The authors describe the mathematical model of UAV and target function for energy consumption minimisation and possible searching algorithms for UAV optimal control from an energy efficiency perspective. There are two main goals: to minimise energy consumption and to develop and investigate an adaptive control algorithm for UAV traction drive in order to increase energy efficiency. The optimal control algorithm is based on two target function values, when comparing and generating corresponding control signals. The main advantage of the proposed algorithm is its unification and usability in any electrical UAV with a different number of traction drives, different or variable mass and other configuration differences without any initial manual setup. Any electric UAV is able to move with maximal energy efficiency using the proposed algorithm.