Gas Source Localization for UAV Using Infotaxis-Based Three-Dimensional Algorithm and Particle Filtering

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are extensively utilized in gas source localization tasks due to their payload capacity and maneuverability. This paper presents a UAV gas source localization algorithm that utilizes three-dimensional Infotaxis and particle filter. The algorithm is designed for gas source localization of UAVs in dynamic outdoor airflow environments. The source localization process comprises UAV search area partitioning, particle filter initialization, observation and update of probability map, entropy calculation and direction selection, particle direction and weight update, and UAV movement. To validate the effectiveness of the algorithm, we build a CFD gas environment and UAV source localization platform, and compare it with traditional Infotaxis-based source localization algorithms. The proposed algorithm based on three-dimensional Infotaxis and particle filter demonstrates higher accuracy.