Journal Article

Remote Target High-Precision Global Geolocalization of UAV Based on Multimodal Visual Servo

Sun, Wei, Jia, Wei, He, Ruofei, Liu, Hongjuan, Zhou, Xuyang, Ma, Yuanchao

2025

Overview

In this work, we propose a geolocation framework for distant ground targets integrating laser rangefinder sensors with multimodal visual servo control. By simulating binocular visual servo measurements through monocular visual servo tracking at fixed time intervals, our approach requires only single-session sensor attitude correction calibration to accurately geolocalize multiple targets during a single flight, which significantly enhances operational efficiency in multi-target geolocation scenarios. We design a step-convergent target geolocation optimization algorithm. By adjusting the step size and the scale factor of the cost function, we achieve fast accuracy convergence for different UAV reconnaissance modes, while maintaining the geolocation accuracy without divergence even when the laser ranging sensor is turned off for a short period. The experimental results show that through the UAV’s continuous reconnaissance measurements, the geolocalization error of remote ground targets based on our algorithm is less than 7 m for 3000 m, and less than 3.5 m for 1500 m. We have realized the fast and high-precision geolocalization of remote targets on the ground under the high-altitude reconnaissance of UAVs.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Accuracy / Algorithms / Altitude / Binocular vision / Calibration / Collaboration / Cost function / Divergence / Flying-machines / global geolocation / High altitude / image-based visual servo / Laser range finders / Laser ranging / Lasers / Localization / Mathematical optimization / Methods / multimodal vision / Optical range finders / Reconnaissance aircraft / Sensors / Servocontrol / Target recognition / unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing / Unmanned aerial vehicles / Vision systems