Modeling Small Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Flow Under External Force

Abstract

With the rising popularity of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), more commonly known as drones, in both the public and private sectors, there is a growing need to organize and study aerial traffic flow. To improve the safety and efficiency of sUAS traffic, a study of sUAS behavior under heavy wind conditions was undertaken. A new model for sense-and-avoid behavior was developed, taking into account the effects of three different types of winds: headwinds, tailwinds, and consistent winds. To confirm the accuracy of the model, its microscopic form was then transformed into a macroscopic model to describe the group behavior of a platoon of vehicles. A MATLAB simulation was programmed to model the flow of a large group of sUAS affected by each different type of wind. Macroscopic data from the three trials were then plotted, and the plots were examined to analyze the nature of the relationships between density, flow, and speed values. Ultimately, it was found that the models produce feasible results and can be used to approach the behavior of externally forced sUAS flow. Various practical applications for these new models were proposed, and suggestions for further research were identified.