Tilting Path Optimization of Tilt Quad Rotor in Conversion Process Based on Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm

The tilt quad rotor (TQR) has the problem of manipulation redundancy due to the aerodynamic structure changing in conversion mode. The tilting path is limited by the conversion corridor. In order to solve the problem of manipulation redundancy in conversion mode and find out the optimal tilting path in conversion corridor, the aerodynamic model of the TQR based on Goldstein vortex theory is established to obtain the manipulation derivative matrix and conversion corridor. A novel manipulation strategy is proposed, the altitude, forward velocity and tilt angle are introduced into the manipulation strategy to ensure the stability of the altitude and attitude in conversion process. To find out the optimal tilting path in conversion corridor, a novel tilting strategy is proposed based on Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm and compared with another three tilting path. To verify the credibility of the flight dynamics model, the effectiveness of manipulation strategy and tilting path optimization, the simulation and flight test were carried out. The simulation and flight test results show that the manipulation strategy proposed in this paper can solve the manipulation redundancy in conversion mode very well, and the proposed tilting path can ensure the stability of the altitude and attitude in conversion corridor.