Cooperative control of small UAVs for naval applications

This paper addresses the development of a cooperative control algorithm used to launch and recover a fleet of small UAV from a ship. The key features of the algorithm include trajectory generation for multiple UAV that accounts for their aerodynamic characteristics and guarantees deconfliction, particularly on final approach, and path following control for multiple UAV to track these trajectories. The proposed control approach is sufficiently flexible to allow for multiple formation configurations and sequential landing patterns. The paper includes simulation results and ends with conclusions and recommendations for future work.