Observer design on the Special Euclidean group SE(3)

Abstract

This paper proposes a nonlinear pose observer designed directly on the Lie group structure of the Special Euclidean group SE(3). We use a gradient-based observer design approach and ensure that the derived observer innovation can be implemented from position measurements. We prove local exponential stability of the error and instability of the non-zero critical points. Simulations indicate that the observer is indeed almost globally stable as would be expected.