Robust Geometric Control for a Quadrotor UAV with Extended Kalman Filter Estimation

Abstract

This study proposes a robust geometric controller tailored for quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The original geometric controller exhibits excellent performance in quadrotor UAV maneuvers. However, as a model-based nonlinear control method, it is sensitive to system model parameters. By integrating a novel extended Kalman filter (EKF)-based estimator for real-time, online estimation of the quadrotor’s inertia parameters, the controller adeptly handles internal uncertainties and external perturbations during flight maneuvers. This approach significantly improves the robustness of the control system against model inaccuracies. Empirical evidence is provided through both simulation and extensive real-world flight tests, demonstrating the controller’s effectiveness and its practical applicability in dynamic environments. The results confirm that this integration substantially enhances system reliability and performance under varied operational conditions.