Inclusion of Horizontal Wind Maps in Path Planning Optimization of UAS

Earlier studies demonstrate that en-route atmospheric winds significantly affect the in-flight performance of unmanned aircraft. Nevertheless today the inclusion of wind is not common practise in determining the optimal flight path. This paper aims to contribute with an accessible method that includes forecast horizontal wind maps which are commonly available, and discuss the methods on how these maps can be integrated in order to obtain the most energy efficient horizontal path of fixed-wing aircraft. The benefits of including horizontal wind maps into the path planning optimization are demonstrated through a simulation, which utilizes Particle Swarm Optimization.