Trajectory Optimization and Finite-Time Control for Unmanned Helicopters Formation

A safe and rapid formation generation is of great importance for the cooperation performance of the multiple unmanned helicopters. The trajectory optimization and control is the key problem in the process of the formation generation. To achieve this goal, a novel safe formation generation strategy is proposed through trajectory optimization and tracking control. First, the rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT) algorithm is applied to obtain the initial guess to satisfy the requirement of rapid solution. Then, the Gauss pseudospectral method is used to transform the optimal control problem to the nonlinear programming (NLP) problem and the sequence quadratic programming (SQP) method is utilized to gain the optimal trajectory combined with the initial guess. Second, a finite-time sliding mode controller is proposed to ensure the finite time trajectory tracking in the presence of model parameter uncertainties and unknown external disturbances. Finally, the numerical simulation is provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed formation generation strategy for unmanned helicopters formation.