Aircraft Landing Using Dynamic Two-Dimensional Image-Based Guidance Control

Abstract

This paper proposes a two-dimensional (2-D) image-based controller to automatically steer a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during the first three stages of landing: alignment, glide-slope, and flare. Observable image features of the runway and its textured ground are exploited to derive a feedback controller for the automatic maneuver. The proposed controller ensures the horizontal position alignment and a smooth touchdown of the aircraft without estimating the height above the runway. In addition, the 2-D image-based control structure adopted also enforces wind disturbance rejection, without the need for an explicit wind estimator. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the performance of the controller.