Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This paper presents a real-time terrain mapping method for aircraft’s navigation, combining probabilistic terrain modeling with adaptive azimuth scan command adjustment. The method refines a preloaded DTED in real time using radar scan data, enabling aircraft to update and utilize terrain elevation information during flight. The terrain is represented using a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), where radar scan data are evaluated based on their posterior responsibilities. A conditional nested GMM refinement is selectively applied in structurally ambiguous regions to capture multi-modal elevation patterns. The azimuth scan command is adaptively adjusted based on posterior responsibilities by increasing the step size in well-mapped regions and decreasing it in areas with low responsibility. This lightweight and adaptive strategy supports real-time operation with low computational cost. Simulations across diverse terrain types demonstrate accurate grid updates and adaptive scan control, with the proposed method achieving max error 29 m compared to grid-based averaging of 43 m and K-means clustering of 81 m. As the total number of updates is comparable to the existing methods, the proposed approach offers an advantage for real-time applications with enhanced grid accuracy.
Source: Remote Sensing
DOI: 10.3390/rs17193342
Authors: Hyunju Lee, Dongwon Jung
Institution: Korea Aerospace University
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
Awards: G3743290498, G4291531030
OpenAlex ID: W4414748213