Mixed Reality Simulation of High-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Dual-Head Electromagnetic Propulsion Devices for Earth and Other Planetary Explorations

Abstract

One of the major limitations of existing unmanned aerial vehicles is limited flight endurance. In this study, we designed an innovative uninterrupted electromagnetic propulsion device for high-endurance missions of a quadcopter drone for the lucrative exploration of earth and other planets with atmospheres. As an airborne platform, this device could achieve scientific objectives better than state-of-the-art revolving spacecraft and walking robots, without any terrain limitation. We developed a mixed reality simulation based on a quadcopter drone and an X-Plane flight simulator. A computer with the X-Plane flight simulator represented the virtual part, and a real quadcopter operating within an airfield represented the real part. In the first phase of our study, we developed a connection interface between the X-Plane flight simulator and the quadcopter ground control station in MATLAB. The experimental results generated from the Earth’s atmosphere show that the flight data from the real and the virtual quadcopters are precise and very close to the prescribed target. The proof-of-concept of the mixed reality simulation of the quadcopter at the Earth atmosphere was verified and validated through several experimental flights of the F450 spider quadcopter with a Pixhawk flight controller with the restricted endurance at the airfield location of Hangang Drone Park in Seoul, South Korea. We concluded that the new generation drones integrated with lightweight electromagnetic propulsion devices are a viable option for achieving unrestricted flight endurance with improved payload capability for Earth and other planetary explorations with the aid of mixed reality simulation to meet the mission flight path demands. This study provides insight into mixed reality simulation aiming for Mars explorations and high-endurance missions in the Earth’s atmosphere with credibility using quadcopter drones regulated by dual-head electromagnetic propulsion devices.