International Journal of Research in Advanced Electronics Engineering
2025, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A
Design and simulation of fault-tolerant control systems for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Author(s): Olav Jensen, Ingrid Sørensen and Lars Nilsen
Abstract: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become an essential component in various applications such as surveillance, agriculture, and disaster management. However, ensuring their reliability in fault-prone environments remains a significant challenge. This research focuses on the design and simulation of a fault-tolerant control system for UAVs, aimed at maintaining system stability and performance despite component failures. A model-based fault detection and isolation (FDI) system was developed, along with a robust control algorithm capable of compensating for faults in real-time. The system's performance was evaluated in several fault scenarios, including GPS and actuator failures, and its ability to maintain stable flight was assessed under both fault-free and fault-induced conditions. The results indicated a high fault detection accuracy of 96.5%, with minimal trajectory deviation (0.35 meters) during faults. Additionally, the fault-tolerant control system demonstrated a reconfiguration success rate of 99%, allowing the UAV to seamlessly switch to backup components during fault conditions. The system's performance in GPS-denied environments was also evaluated, where the UAV maintained stability despite an increase in position error. The findings highlight the effectiveness of the proposed fault-tolerant strategies, including adaptive fault detection, isolation, and system reconfiguration, in ensuring UAV reliability under a range of fault scenarios. This study contributes to the development of more robust UAV systems for critical missions where reliability and fault tolerance are paramount.
Pages: 06-10 | Views: 10 | Downloads: 7
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How to cite this article:
Olav Jensen, Ingrid Sørensen, Lars Nilsen. Design and simulation of fault-tolerant control systems for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Int J Res Adv Electron Eng 2025;6(2):06-10.
