Autonomous Flight of Hexacopter Under Propulsion System Failure

Abstract

This paper presents a fault-tolerant approach for the propulsion systems of hexacopters (i.e., rotors and propellers) to overcome failures during outdoor autonomous flight missions. In this study, we used an explicit control allocation method for each stopped motor, and an asymmetrical motor rotation arrangement is applied in order to guarantee the controllability of the yaw. Finally, the developed fault diagnosis and isolation system is tested during a global-positioning-system-based autonomous flight of a hexacopter with a failed motor.