PHM-based Multi-UAV task assignment

This paper is relating to the application of Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) concepts based on Prognostics and Health Monitoring (PHM) techniques to Multi-UAV systems. Considering UAV as a mission critical system, it is expected and required to accomplish its operational objectives with minimal unscheduled interruptions. So that, it does make sense for UAV to take advantage of those techniques as enablers for the readiness of multi-UAV. The main goal of this paper is to apply information from a PHM system to support decision making through an IVHM framework. PHM system information, in this case, comprises UAV remaining useful life (RUL) estimations. UAV RUL is computed by means of a fault tree analysis that it is fed by a distribution function from a probability density function relating time and failure probability for each UAV critical components. The IVHM framework, in this case, it is the task assignment based on UAV health condition (RUL information) using the Receding Horizon Task Assignment (RHTA) algorithm. The study case was developed considering a team of electrical small UAVs and pitch control system was chosen as the critical system.