Advancing Autonomy for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

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The next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will live up to the hype if we are successful in solving some of the demanding issues related to their autonomy. Achieving the next levels of autonomy for these vehicles signifies that people and industries will be able to deploy UAVs capable of safely navigating in cluttered unknown environments (such as forests, cities, buildings,...,etc) while executing complex and intelligent tasks collaboratively with humans and other autonomous vehicles. In this research program, we aim to contribute to the fields of control and robotics to address the crucial issue of autonomy for small-size (miniature) UAVs. Miniature UAVs are man-portable, easy to control, and highly maneuverable, which puts them on track to be autonomously deployed in a large number of complicated application scenarios. Specifically, we will tackle problems related to localization in challenging conditions, obstacle avoidance in unknown environments, and real-time execution of complex missions. The accomplishment of the research goals outlined in this program will open doors to new and exciting applications for fully autonomous UAVs operating in tangled environments while accomplishing intricate tasks. This research program is also an excellent opportunity to train highly-qualified professionals in these promising fields who can become leaders in research and technology, sustaining Canada's economic growth.