An overview of various kinds of wind effects on unmanned aerial vehicle

TLDR

Attitude, speed, and position of unmanned aerial vehicles are susceptible to wind disturbance. The study proposes guidelines on selecting appropriate wind models for simulation and improving UAV stability across various wind conditions. The authors review wind types and mathematical models, integrate them with UAV dynamics, and illustrate UAV motion from velocity, force, and energy perspectives, supported by simulation tests. Simulations demonstrate how various wind types alter UAV trajectories and flight states.

Abstract

Attitude, speed, and position of unmanned aerial vehicles are susceptible to wind disturbance. The types, characteristics, and mathematical models of the wind, which have great influence on unmanned aerial vehicle in the low-altitude environment, are summarized, including the constant wind, turbulent flow, many kinds of wind shear, and the propeller vortex. Combined with the mathematical model of the unmanned aerial vehicle, the mechanism of unmanned aerial vehicle movement in the wind field is illustrated from three different kinds of viewpoints including velocity viewpoint, force viewpoint, and energy viewpoint. Some simulation tests have been implemented to show the effects of different kinds of wind on unmanned aerial vehicle’s path and flight states. Finally, some proposals are presented to tell reader in which condition, which wind model should be added to simulation, and how to enhance the stability of unmanned aerial vehicle for different kinds of wind fields.