A fuzzy control algorithm for tracing air pollution based on unmanned aerial vehicles

ABSTRACT

The process of atmospheric pollutants traceability based on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is affected by many factors that can impact and increase the complexity of the traceability of atmospheric pollutants. In this study, we proposed a new algorithm called the fuzzy control traceability (FCT) to track odor plumes. Our proposed algorithm combined the characteristics and fuzzy control of the UAV and designed a controller based on the actual environment of the UAV. The fuzzy controller fuzzed the input gas concentration information, established fuzzy control rules by imitating human brain thinking, and outputted the turning angle and the move length according to rules, thus realizing intelligent tracking of the odor plume by the UAV. We compared the FCT algorithm with the bio-inspired “ZigZag” algorithm to validate its performance. Various concentration fields were constructed, and ten sets of experiments are performed using the two algorithms in different concentration fields. The average success rate of the FCT algorithm under different concentration fields was 95.4% higher than that of the ZigZag algorithm.

Implications: Fuzzy control logic is applied to the field of air pollutant traceability of drones, and a single drone traceability algorithm based on fuzzy control is proposed; and in view of the shortcomings of a single traceability subject in the traceability, multiple traceability subjects are introduced to optimize fuzzy control.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Tao Ding, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province [LGF20E080014].

Notes on contributors

Xinyan Jiang

Xinyan Jiang is a graduate student affiliated with the College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China.

Tao Ding

Tao Ding is an associate professor affiliated with the College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China.

Yuting He

Yuting He is a graduate student affiliated with the College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China.

Xuelin Cui

Xuelin Cui is a graduate student affiliated with the College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China.

Zhenguo Liu

Zhenguo Liu is a graduate student affiliated with the College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China.

Zhenming Zhang

Zhenming Zhang is a graduate student affiliated with the College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China