A Survey of Small-Scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Recent Advances and Future Development Trends

Guowei Cai; Jorge Dias; Lakmal Seneviratne

doi:10.1142/S2301385014300017

A Survey of Small-Scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Recent Advances and Future Development Trends

Guowei Cai, Jorge Dias, Lakmal Seneviratne

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

302 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper provides a brief overview on the recent advances of small-scale unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the perspective of platforms, key elements, and scientific research. The survey starts with an introduction of the recent advances of small-scale UAV platforms, based on the information summarized from 132 models available worldwide. Next, the evolvement of the key elements, including onboard processing units, navigation sensors, mission-oriented sensors, communication modules, and ground control station, is presented and analyzed. Third, achievements of small-scale UAV research, particularly on platform design and construction, dynamics modeling, and flight control, are introduced. Finally, the future of small-scale UAVs' research, civil applications, and military applications are forecasted.

Original language	British English
Pages (from-to)	175-199
Number of pages	25
Journal	Unmanned Systems
Volume	2
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1142/S2301385014300017
State	Published - 1 Apr 2014

Keywords

Dynamics modeling
fixed-wing
flapping-wing
flight control
guidance navigation and control
platform design
rotorcraft
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Access to Document

10.1142/S2301385014300017

Cite this

@article{2e7ab300b6684987b19fdfcc86534d77,

title = "A Survey of Small-Scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Recent Advances and Future Development Trends",

abstract = "This paper provides a brief overview on the recent advances of small-scale unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the perspective of platforms, key elements, and scientific research. The survey starts with an introduction of the recent advances of small-scale UAV platforms, based on the information summarized from 132 models available worldwide. Next, the evolvement of the key elements, including onboard processing units, navigation sensors, mission-oriented sensors, communication modules, and ground control station, is presented and analyzed. Third, achievements of small-scale UAV research, particularly on platform design and construction, dynamics modeling, and flight control, are introduced. Finally, the future of small-scale UAVs' research, civil applications, and military applications are forecasted.",

keywords = "Dynamics modeling, fixed-wing, flapping-wing, flight control, guidance navigation and control, platform design, rotorcraft, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)",

author = "Guowei Cai and Jorge Dias and Lakmal Seneviratne",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2014 World Scientific Publishing Company.",

year = "2014",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1142/S2301385014300017",

language = "British English",

volume = "2",

pages = "175--199",

journal = "Unmanned Systems",

issn = "2301-3850",

publisher = "World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Survey of Small-Scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

T2 - Recent Advances and Future Development Trends

AU - Cai, Guowei

AU - Dias, Jorge

AU - Seneviratne, Lakmal

PY - 2014/4/1

Y1 - 2014/4/1

N2 - This paper provides a brief overview on the recent advances of small-scale unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the perspective of platforms, key elements, and scientific research. The survey starts with an introduction of the recent advances of small-scale UAV platforms, based on the information summarized from 132 models available worldwide. Next, the evolvement of the key elements, including onboard processing units, navigation sensors, mission-oriented sensors, communication modules, and ground control station, is presented and analyzed. Third, achievements of small-scale UAV research, particularly on platform design and construction, dynamics modeling, and flight control, are introduced. Finally, the future of small-scale UAVs' research, civil applications, and military applications are forecasted.

AB - This paper provides a brief overview on the recent advances of small-scale unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the perspective of platforms, key elements, and scientific research. The survey starts with an introduction of the recent advances of small-scale UAV platforms, based on the information summarized from 132 models available worldwide. Next, the evolvement of the key elements, including onboard processing units, navigation sensors, mission-oriented sensors, communication modules, and ground control station, is presented and analyzed. Third, achievements of small-scale UAV research, particularly on platform design and construction, dynamics modeling, and flight control, are introduced. Finally, the future of small-scale UAVs' research, civil applications, and military applications are forecasted.

KW - Dynamics modeling

KW - fixed-wing

KW - flapping-wing

KW - flight control

KW - guidance navigation and control

KW - platform design

KW - rotorcraft

KW - unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85073072779&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1142/S2301385014300017

DO - 10.1142/S2301385014300017

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85073072779

SN - 2301-3850

VL - 2

SP - 175

EP - 199

JO - Unmanned Systems

JF - Unmanned Systems

IS - 2

ER -

A Survey of Small-Scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Recent Advances and Future Development Trends

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this