Collaborative Search and Pursuit for Autonomous Helicopters

Abstract

This paper describes recent results to develop, improve, and flight test a multi-aircraft collaborative architecture, focused on decentralized autonomous decision-making. The architecture includes a search coverage algorithm, behavior estimation, and a pursuit algorithm designed to solve a scenario-driven challenge problem. The architecture was implemented on a pair of Yamaha RMAX helicopters outfitted with modular avionics, as well as an associated set of simulation tools. Simulation and flight test results for single- and multiple- aircraft scenarios are presented. Further work suggested includes identification and development of more sophisticated methods that can replace the simpler elements in modular fashion.