Solution to the Problem of Passing Over the Given Targets by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in an Unstable Environment

The paper gives a statement and considers the solution to an urgent problem of flying over the given targets by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in unstable conditions. A criterion is formulated for constructing efficient routes and passing arbitrary located sites according to a given formal description of the terrain map with the presence of interferences. Heuristic rules are proposed aimed at minimizing the graph of the initial map and reducing the number of alternative flight routes, given the time constraints for completing the task. The search of the solution in this case can be carried out according to the base tree of routes. A heuristic algorithm for searching efficient routes in a limited time is considered, which has the complexity that ensures its implementation on the UAV onboard computer. It is substantiated that the proposed approach can significantly reduce the number of comparing alternatives for flying around given arbitrary located targets in comparison with the well-known methods for solving this problem. The paper describes a successful example of solving the UAV route planning problem with the proposed approach, which is complicated by the presence of wind flows affecting the speed and trajectory.