基于移动长基线的多AUV 协同导航

基于扩展卡尔曼滤波（EKF）理论研究了多AUV 协同导航定位的移动长基线算法．移动长基线多AUV 协同导航结构中,主AUV 内部装备高精度导航设备,从AUV 内部装备低精度导航设备,外部均装备水声装置测量 相对位置关系,利用移动长基线算法融合内部和外部传感器信息,实时获取从AUV 的位置信息．建立了协同导航 系统数学模型,设计了EKF 协同导航算法,在各种测试情况下通过仿真验证了所推导的分析结果,对EKF 和几何 解方程算法的导航效果进行了比较．研究结果表明,以主AUV 作为移动的长基线节点时,通过EKF 算法可以显著 提高群体的导航定位精度．     

基于距离量测的双领航多AUV协同定位队形优化分析

利用领航与跟随多自主水下航行器(AUV)间相对距离量测信息进行协同定位,可有效提高多AUV编队整体定位精度.针对多AUV编队队形对协同定位性能所造成的影响,利用Fisher信息矩阵(FIM)行列式的对数构建协同定位性能评价函数,并通过评价函数的最大化实现编队队形的优化.分析并验证多AUV编队含有两个跟随AUV及两个以上跟随AUV共圆情况下的最优队形,并利用梯度下降算法进行迭代搜索,从而获得两个以上跟随AUV不共圆情况下的优化队形.最后,通过仿真实验结果验证结论的正确性及队形优化算法的有效性.     

基于凸优化算法的无人水下航行器协同定位

In this paper, a cooperative localization algorithm for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) is proposed. A ``parallel" model is adopted to describe the cooperative localization problem instead of the traditional ``leader-follower" model, and a linear programming associated with convex optimization method is used to deal with the problem. After an unknown-but-bounded model for sensor noise is assumed, bearing and range measurements can be modeled as linear constraints on the configuration space of the AUVs. Merging these constraints induces a convex polyhedron representing the set of all configurations consistent with the sensor measurements. Estimates for the uncertainty in the position of a single AUV or the relative positions of two or more nodes can then be obtained by projecting this polyhedron onto appropriate subspaces of the configuration space. Two different optimization algorithms are given to recover the uncertainty region according to the number of the AUVs. Simulation results are presented for a typical localization example of the AUV formation. The results show that our positioning method offers a good localization accuracy, although a small number of low-cost sensors are needed for each vehicle, and this validates that it is an economical and practical positioning approach compared with the traditional approach.     

基于多AUV间任务协作的水下多目标探测机制

利用自主式水下航行器（Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, AUV）对水下多目标进行协同探测是目前海洋技术领域的研究热点。本文主要研究在水下三维区间内的多AUV任务分配与协作探测机制,建立了以每个AUV能量耗费与能耗均衡为约束条件的水下三维空间中的多旅行商（Multiple Traveling Salesman Problem, MTSP）问题模型,利用遗传算法（Genetic Algorithm, GA）对该NP-Complete问题进行启发式求解,同时设计了考虑巡航总路径及访问目标数的适应度函数以提高多AUV间的能耗均衡性,实现多个AUV对多个水下目标的优化协同探测。最后本文利用Matlab R2014a软件对多AUV任务协作与多目标探测机制进行了仿真,仿真结果验证了该方法能够均衡多AUV多目标探测问题的能量消耗,进而提高巡航速度和生命周期。     

基于卡尔曼滤波的自主式水下航行器大尺度编队控制

针对网络环境下环境噪声对自主式水下航行器编队控制的影响,提出一种利用卡尔曼滤波实时估计AUV最优运动状态的编队控制方法.将空间间隔较远的多AUV系统建模为多智能体系统,从大尺度上研究其编队控制问题.为了得到每个AUV速度状态的最优估计值,每个AUV都嵌入一个全局卡尔曼滤波器,利用该全局滤波器进行最优估计从而计算出噪声环境下其自身的最优位置.仿真结果验证了所给出的控制策略的有效性.     

Localization of AUVs using visual information of underwater structures and artificial landmarks

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) can perform flexible operations in complex underwater environments due to their autonomy. Localization is one of the key components of autonomous navigation. Since the inertial navigation system of an AUV suffers from drift, observing fixed objects in an inertial reference system can enhance the localization performance. In this paper, we propose a method of localizing AUVs by exploiting visual measurements of underwater structures and artificial landmarks. In a framework of particle filtering, a camera measurement model that emulates the camera’s observation of underwater structures is designed. The particle weight is then updated based on the extracted visual information of the underwater structures. Detected artificial landmarks are also used in the particle weight update. The proposed method is validated by experiments performed in a structured basin environment.     

Robust underwater obstacle detection and collision avoidance

A robust obstacle detection and avoidance system is essential for long term autonomy of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Forward looking sonars are usually used to detect and localize obstacles. However, high amounts of background noise and clutter present in underwater environments makes it difficult to detect obstacles reliably. Moreover, lack of GPS signals in underwater environments leads to poor localization of the AUV. This translates to uncertainty in the position of the obstacle relative to a global frame of reference. We propose an obstacle detection and avoidance algorithm for AUVs which differs from existing techniques in two aspects. First, we use a local occupancy grid that is attached to the body frame of the AUV, and not to the global frame in order to localize the obstacle accurately with respect to the AUV alone. Second, our technique adopts a probabilistic framework which makes use of probabilities of detection and false alarm to deal with the high amounts of noise and clutter present in the sonar data. This local probabilistic occupancy grid is used to extract potential obstacles which are then sent to the command and control (C2) system of the AUV. The C2 system checks for possible collision and carries out an evasive maneuver accordingly. Experiments are carried out to show the viability of the proposed algorithm.     

多AUV协同导航问题的研究现状与进展

自主水下航行器(Autonomous underwater vehicle, AUV)协同导航是未来50年解决水下中间层区域AUV导航定位的重要方法. 本文针对多AUV协同导航, 对该领域相关问题的研究进展进行了综述, 包括: 1)论述多AUV协同导航领域的研究现状, 包括协同导航问题界定、特点综述与讨论; 2)分析多AUV协同导航系统模型及相关算法的研究进展, 包括基于优化的、 基于参数估计的和基于贝叶斯估计的滤波算法; 3)对协同导航网络下的误差建模与补偿方法的研究进展进行了综述, 包括未知洋流的影响、水声通信延迟补偿等; 4)从影响协同导航定位精度的角度出发, 对AUV协同导航的可观测性与编队最优构型设计的研究进展进行了一系列的分析; 5)陈述目前多AUV协同导航中存在的关键问题, 并讨论其发展趋势.     

Synchronization of multiple autonomous underwater vehicles without velocity measurements

In this paper,we investigate the synchronization control of multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs),considering both state feedback and output feedback cases.Treating multiple AUVs as a graph,we define the tracking error of each AUV with both its own tracking error and the relative position errors with respect to its neighbors taken into account.Lyapunov analysis is used to derive the control law for each AUV.For the output feedback case,a passive filter is used to compensate for the unknown relative velocity errors among AUVs,and an observer is employed to estimate the velocity of the AUV itself.Rigid mathematical proof is provided for the proposed algorithms for both state feedback and output feedback cases.Simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.It is shown that,the synchronization error is smaller in the case of considering the relative errors between AUVs than in the case of considering the tracking error of the single AUV only.     

An Empirical Evaluation of Co-ordination Strategies for an AUV and UAV

We propose a framework for cooperative search using a combination of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Such a combination allows search platforms to adapt to changes in both mission objectives and environmental parameters. We propose three strategies for coordination between an UAV and AUV to maximize the area explored while minimizing the idle time of the UAV and AUV. We evaluate the efficacy of these strategies while varying the speed, communication range and the number of targets. Preliminary results suggest the feasibility of our approach to combine UAVs and AUVs for effectively searching a given area.     

Underwater guidance of distributed autonomous underwater vehicles using one leader

Consider the case where autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are deployed to monitor a 3D underwater environment. This paper tackles the problem of guiding all AUVs to the destination while not colliding with a priori unknown 3D obstacles. Suppose that among all AUVs, only the leader AUV has an ability of locating itself, while accessing a destination location. A follower, an AUV that is not a leader, has no sensors for locating itself. Every follower can only measure the relative position of its neighbor AUVs utilizing its sonar sensors. Our paper addresses distributed controls, so that multiple followers track the leader while preserving communication connectivity. We design controls, so that all AUVs reach the destination safely, while maintaining connectivity in cluttered 3D environments. To the best of our knowledge, our article is novel in developing 3D underwater guidance controls, so that all AUVs equipped with sonar sensors are guided to reach a destination in a priori unknown cluttered environments. MATLAB simulations are used to validate the proposed guidance scheme in underwater environments with many obstacles.     

A Multi‐Autonomous Underwater Vehicle System for Autonomous Tracking of Marine Life

This paper presents a multi‐autonomous underwater vehicle system capable of cooperatively and autonomously tracking and following marine targets (i.e., fish) tagged with an acoustic transmitter. The AUVs have been equipped with stereo‐hydrophones that receive signals broadcasted by the acoustic transmitter tags to enable real‐time calculation of bearing‐to‐tag and distance‐to‐tag measurements. These measurements are shared between AUVs via acoustic modem and fused within each AUV's particle filter for estimating the target's position. The AUVs use a leader/follower multi‐AUV control system to enable the AUVs to drive toward the estimated target state by following collision‐free paths. Once within the local area of the target, the AUVs circumnavigate the target state until it moves to another area. The system builds on previous work by incorporating a new SmartTag package that can be attached to an individual's dorsal fin. The SmartTag houses a full inertial measurement unit (INU), video logger, acoustic transmitter, and timed release mechanism. After real‐time AUV tracking experiments, the SmartTag is recovered. Logged IMU data are fused with logged AUV‐obtained acoustic tag measurements within a particle filter to improve state estimation accuracy. This improvement is validated through a series of multi‐AUV shark and boat tracking experiments conducted at Santa Catalina Island, California. When compared with previous work that did not use the SmartTag package, results demonstrated a decrease in mean position estimation error of 25–75%, tag orientation estimation errors dropped from 80° to 30° , the sensitivity of mean position error with respect to distance to the tag was less by a factor of 50, and the sensitivity of mean position error with respect to acoustic signal reception frequency to the tag was 25 times less. These statistics demonstrate a large improvement in the system's robustness when the SmartTag package is used.     

Multi‐AUV motion planning for archeological site mapping and photogrammetric reconstruction

This paper presents coupled and decoupled multi‐autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) motion planning approaches for maximizing information gain. The work is motivated by applications in which multiple AUVs are tasked with obtaining video footage for the photogrammetric reconstruction of underwater archeological sites. Each AUV is equipped with a video camera and side‐scan sonar. The side‐scan sonar is used to initially collect low‐resolution data to construct an information map of the site. Coupled and decoupled motion planning approaches with respect to this map are presented. Both planning methods seek to generate multi‐AUV trajectories that capture close‐up video footage of a site from a variety of different viewpoints, building on prior work in single‐AUV rapidly exploring random tree (RRT) motion planning. The coupled and decoupled planners are compared in simulation. In addition, the multiple AUV trajectories constructed by each planner were executed at archeological sites located off the coast of Malta, albeit by a single‐AUV due to limited resources. Specifically, each AUV trajectory for a plan was executed in sequence instead of simultaneously. Modifications are also made by both planners to a baseline RRT algorithm. The results of the paper present a number of trade‐offs between the two planning approaches and demonstrate a large improvement in map coverage efficiency and runtime.     

基于多AUV协作的稀疏水下传感网定位技术研究

如何在稀疏部署的水下传感器网络中实现传感器节点的高效定位是一个研究热点.提出了一种基于多个移动AUV协作的水下传感器网络内节点定位机制,利用AUV的精确自导航功能实现对网内未知位置节点的定位协助.提出的协作定位算法扩展了水下传感器网络的网内节点位置迭代估计方法,将信标节点和多AUV联合作为定位参考点,然后推导了基于最小二乘法的定位估计方程.仿真结果验证了该方法可以在定位节点比例、归一化定位误差和平均置信度等几个方面提高定位性能.     

An optimization based Moving Horizon Estimation with application to localization of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Localizing small Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) that have limited payload and perception capability is of importance to promote popularization of underwater applications. Two different methodologies, filter and optimization based methods, can both be used to address the localization problem. But they are seldom rigorously compared and their relative advantages are rarely established. This paper presents a rigorous investigation on the relationship between these two methods. Based on this examination, a novel cooperative localization algorithm for the scenario where AUVs are localized by using range measurements from a single surface mobile beacon is proposed. The main contribution of this paper is threefold. First, major difference and close connection between filter based method and optimization based Maximum a Posteriori method are explicitly clarified by analytically solving optimization problems. Second, a novel localization algorithm combining a filter based extended Kalman filter and an optimization based Moving Horizon Estimation is developed for three-dimensional underwater localization in real-time and long-term applications. The algorithm allows data fusion of multiple sensors, imposes physical constraints on states and noises, bounds computational complexity, and achieves a compromise between better accuracy and lower computational requirement. Third, observability analysis of single beacon based localization algorithm is conducted in the context of nonlinear discrete time systems and a sufficient condition is derived. The observability and improved localization accuracy of the proposed localization algorithm are verified in a customized underwater simulator by extensive numerical simulations.     

洋流影响下基于运动矢径的AUV协同定位方法

针对水下自主航行器（AUV）协同定位受水下未知定常洋流影响的问题,给出一种洋流影响下基于运动矢径的AUV协同定位方法.利用AUV的运动学方程和基于运动矢径的量测方程,建立AUV的导航模型;通过扩展的卡尔曼滤波,设计了协同定位滤波算法;利用该算法对洋流速度进行估计,以补偿AUV定位误差.仿真结果表明,该算法能有效估计未知定常洋流速度的大小,并对AUV定位误差进行实时补偿,显著提高了AUV的定位精度.     

Adaptive autonomous underwater vehicles for littoral surveillance

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have gained more interest in recent years for military as well as civilian applications. One potential application of AUVs is for the purpose of undersea surveillance. As research into undersea surveillance using AUVs progresses, issues arise as to how an AUV acquires, acts on, and shares information about the undersea battle space. These issues naturally touch on aspects of vehicle autonomy and underwater communications, and need to be resolved through a spiral development process that includes at sea experimentation. This paper presents a recent AUV implementation for active anti-submarine warfare tested at sea in the summer of 2010. On-board signal processing capabilities and an adaptive behavior are discussed in both a simulation and experimental context. The implications for underwater surveillance using AUVs are discussed.     

Cooperative Localization of AUVs Using Moving Horizon Estimation

This paper studies the localization problem of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) constrained by limited size, power and payload. Such AUVs cannot be equipped with heavy sensors which makes their underwater localization problem difficult. The proposed cooperative localization algorithm is performed by using a single surface mobile beacon which provides range measurement to bound the localization error. The main contribution of this paper is twofold: 1) The observability of single beacon based localization is first analyzed in the context of nonlinear discrete time system, deriving a sufficient condition on observability. It is further compared with observability of linearized system to verify that a nonlinear state estimation is necessary. 2) Moving horizon estimation is integrated with extended Kalman filter (EKF) for three dimensional localization using single beacon, which can alleviate the computational complexity, impose various constraints and make use of several previous range measurements for each estimation. The observability and improved localization accuracy of the localization algorithm are verified by extensive numerical simulation compared with EKF.      

Design and Control of Autonomous Underwater Robots: A Survey

During the 1990s, numerous worldwide research and development activities have occurred in underwater robotics, especially in the area of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). As the ocean attracts great attention on environmental issues and resources as well as scientific and military tasks, the need for and use of underwater robotic systems has become more apparent. Great efforts have been made in developing AUVs to overcome challenging scientific and engineering problems caused by the unstructured and hazardous ocean environment. In the 1990s, about 30 new AUVs have been built worldwide. With the development of new materials, advanced computing and sensory technology, as well as theoretical advancements, R&D activities in the AUV community have increased. However, this is just the beginning for more advanced, yet practical and reliable AUVs. This paper surveys some key areas in current state-of-the-art underwater robotic technologies. It is by no means a complete survey but provides key references for future development. The new millennium will bring advancements in technology that will enable the development of more practical, reliable AUVs.     

Current-Aided Multiple-AUV Cooperative Localization and Target Tracking in Anchor-Free Environments

In anchor-free environments, where no devices with known positions are available, the error growth of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) localization and target tracking is unbounded due to the lack of references and the accumulated errors in inertial measurements. This paper aims to improve the localization and tracking accuracy by involving current information as extra references. We first integrate current measurements and maps with belief propagation and design a distributed current-aided message-passing scheme that theoretically solves the localization and tracking problems. Based on this scheme, we propose particle-based cooperative localization and target tracking algorithms, named CaCL and CaTT, respectively. In AUV localization, CaCL uses the current measurements to correct the predicted and transmitted position information and alleviates the impact of the accumulated errors in inertial measurements. With target tracking, the current maps are applied in CaTT to modify the position prediction of the target which is calculated through historical estimates. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed methods are validated through various simulations by comparisons with alternative methods under different trajectories and current conditions.