arXiv:2608.09515cs.RO2026-08

用缆绳+惯性数据实现行星无人机厘米级定位,解决续航与计算限制。

Tether-Inertial Localization for Planetary Drones

论文配图:Tether-Inertial Localization for Planetary Drones
图 1 · 摘自论文原文
  • 通过缆绳长度和角度测量,结合解析模型与高斯过程补偿误差。
  • 平均定位误差低至5.2厘米,比现有方法提升一个数量级。
  • 适合资源受限的行星探测任务,尤其适用于无视觉/卫星信号环境。

近期行星探测中,无人飞行器(如机智号直升机)展现了巨大潜力,但载荷能力有限导致飞行时间与计算资源受限,制约其应用。通过缆绳连接,可将电池与计算负载转移至母体巡视器。同时,缆绳可用于非漂移定位。本文提出一种新型缆绳-惯性定位方法,利用缆绳长度与角度测量,估算飞行器相对于基座的位置。该方法结合计算高效的解析猫绳模型与高斯过程残差补偿,以应对系统性传感器误差与模型偏差。在圆形、三角形及8字轨迹上,缆绳长度达4.5米,总飞行时间37分钟的实验验证了其有效性。仅使用缆绳定位反馈时,解析模型平均均方根误差(RMSE)为7.4厘米,经高斯过程补偿后降至5.2厘米,较当前最优方法提升一个数量级。结果表明,该方法是缆绳无人机(TUAV)在无视觉或GNSS环境下实用的替代定位方案。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Recent developments in planetary exploration have shown the potential of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), such as the Ingenuity helicopter that provided valuable mapping data. However, limited payload capabilities constrain the flight times and compute available for localization, which restrict their applicability. By providing a tethered connection, issues such as battery and computational constraints are offloaded to the base rover. At the same time, the cable can be exploited for non-drifting localization. This work presents a novel Tether-Inertial Localization approach that uses tether length and angle measurements to estimate the UAV position relative to its base. The method combines a computationally efficient analytical catenary model with a Gaussian Process (GP) residual error compensation. This accounts for systematic sensor inaccuracies and model limitations. Experimental validation across circular, triangular, and figure-eight trajectories with tether lengths up to 4.5 m and a total flight time of 37 minutes demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Using only tether-based position estimates for feedback, the analytical catenary model achieves an average RMSE of 7.4 cm, which is further reduced to 5.2 cm through GP-based residual compensation, one order of magnitude better than the state-of-the-art. These results establish Tether-Inertial Localization as a practical alternative to vision- and GNSS-based localization for Tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (TUAVs).

无人机定位行星探测缆绳导航高斯过程

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