Real-time navigation, guidance, and control of a UAV using low-cost sensors

Applying low-cost sensors for the Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) of an autonomous Uninhibited Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an extremely challenging area. This paper presents the real-time results of applying a low-cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for the GNC. The INS/GPS navigation loop provides continuous and reliable navigation solutions to the guidance and flight control loop for autonomous flight. With additional air data and engine thrust data, the guidance loop computes the guidance demands to follow way-point scenarios. The flight control loop generates actuator signals for the control surfaces and thrust vector. The whole GNC algorithm was implemented within an embedded flight control computer. The real-time flight test results show that the vehicle can perform the autonomous flight reliably even under high maneuvering scenarios.