Autonomous Landing Algorithm using the learning-to-rank technique for multi-agent Unmanned Aerial Systems
This project was funded by Iowa NASA EPSCoR program in Sep 2020 – Aug 2021. The objective of this project is to develop the autonomous landing algorithm using the learning-to-rank machine learning technique for multi-agent Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs). This project was proposed to contribute for improving Iowa’s economic benefit and NASA ARMD’s strategic plan of integrating UASs into National Air Space (NAS). Please proceed the overview page for starting the journey!
Research Impact
This research is the first-time trial of implementing the learning-to-rank technique into the air traffic control. The idea was simple to propose this project. PI inspired by YouTube video recommendation algorithm and connected dots into how we can recommend the rank for landing of multiple drones. With exhaustive literature reviews, PI decided to implement the learning-to-rank technique for mimicking the air traffic controller. The outcome of this project is meant to contribute the improvement of Iowa’s economy. PI envisioned to utilize the outcome of this project for Iowa’s corn industry. Specifically, applying the corn fugicide required formation flight of UASs for meeting the short deadline (2 weeks for applying fugicide over 30.5 million acre, see this website for learning more about corn industry in Iowa). Additionally, this project contributes to fulfill the NASA’s Strategic plan of integrating UASs into NAS, see more details in here page 53-57.
Educational Impact
This project funded two underrepresented students (1 – doctoral, 1-undergraduate) and all students received the systematic mentoring for improving their resilience and self-confidence. We had the regular 1-1 mentoring meeting with PI and students. Also, Dr. Johnson spent time with student bi-weekly to give advice, mentoring, and feedback of research progression to ISU research team. PI also improved her course of Aer E 490D (independent study) by providing exhaustive research feedback and mentoring.
Contributors
- Dr. A Ram (Bella) Kim – bellakim10@gmail.com (Principal Investigator – Former Assistant professor in Aerospace Engineering at ISU)
- Dr. Marcus Johnson – marcus.johnson@nasa.gov (NASA Ames Research Center – Aviation Systems Division)
- Desmond Bonner – dbonner@iastate.edu (Doctoral student)
- Kerrigan Urbi – urbik@iastate.edu (Undergraduate Research Assistant)
- Prashant Thapaliya – prashan7@iastate.edu (Undergraduate Research Assistant)