Coordination and navigation of heterogeneous UAVs-UGVs teams localized by a hawk-eye approach

A navigation and stabilization scheme for 3D heterogeneous (UAVs and UGVs) formations acting under a hawk-eye like relative localization is presented in this paper. We formulate a novel Model Predictive Control (MPC) based concept for formation driving in a leader-follower constellation into a required target region. The formation to target region problem in 3D is solved using the MPC methodology for both: i) the trajectory planning and control of a virtual leader, and ii) the control and stabilization of followers - UAVs and UGVs. The core of the method lies in a novel avoidance function based on a model of the formation respecting requirements of the direct visibility between the team members in environment with obstacles, which is crucial for the hawk-eye localization.