Work

Test Methodologies for Collision Tolerance, Navigation, and Trajectory-Following Capabilities of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems

Year: 2025

Type: standard

Abstract: SmallUnmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) have seen rapid adoption thanks to advances in endurance, communications, autonomy, and manufacturing costs, yet most testing remains focused on GPS-supported, above-ground operations. This study introduces new test methodologies and presents comprehensive experimental evaluations of collision tolerance, navigation, and trajectory following for commercial sUAS platforms in GPS-denied indoor environments. We also propose numerical and categorical metrics—based on established vehicle collision protocols such as the Modified Acceleration Severity Index (MASI) and Maximum Delta V (MDV)—to quantify collision resilience; for example, the tested platforms achieved an average MASI of 0.1 g, while demonstrating clear separation between the highest- and lowest-performing systems. The experimental results revealed that performance varied significantly with mission complexity, obstacle proximity, and trajectory requirements, identifying platforms best suited for subterranean or crowded indoor applications. By aggregating these metrics, users can select the optimal drone for their specific mission requirements in challenging enclosed spaces.

Source: Drones

DOI: 10.3390/drones9060447

Authors: Edwin Meriaux, Kshitij Jerath

Institution: University of Massachusetts Lowell

Language: English

Topic: Aerospace and Aviation Technology

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137