Spatio-Temporal Wind Modeling for UAV Simulations

Abstract

Wind affects the stability and maneuverability of UAVs, which can be particularly dangerous when operating near obstacles or each other. In order to test the effectiveness of formation control laws and the impact of windy environments on the vehicles, spatio-temporal wind fields must be modeled. Each vehicle within the formation experiences unique wind conditions, but these conditions are correlated to the conditions experienced by the other vehicles. This report develops a spatio-temporal model for over-land and over-water environments that produces a representative wind field capable of running on a personal computer that also includes turbulence and gusting.