Fractional-Order Control Algorithm for Tello EDU Quadrotor Drone Safe Landing during Disturbance on Propeller

Abstract

Quadcopter drones have become increasingly popular because of their versatility and usefulness in various applications, such as surveillance, delivery, and search and rescue operations. Weather conditions and obstacles can undoubtedly pose challenges for drone flights, sometimes causing the loss of one or two propellers. This is a significant challenge as the loss of one or more propellers leads to a sudden loss of control, potentially resulting in a crash, which must be addressed through advanced control strategies. Therefore, this article develops and implements a fractional-order control algorithm to enhance quadrotor drones’ safety and resilience during propeller failure scenarios. The research encompasses the complexities of quadrotor dynamics, fractional-order control theory, and existing methodologies for ensuring safe drone landings. The study emphasizes case validation on experimental results, where four distinct cases were tested using PID and Fractional-order PID (FOPID) controllers. These cases involve various simulated failure conditions to assess the performance and adaptability of the developed control algorithms. The results show the proposed FOPID control’s superior robustness and adaptability compared to traditional PID controllers. These offer significant advancements in navigating dynamic environments and managing disruptive elements introduced during propeller failure simulations in drone control technology.