Energy‐Efficient Aerial Rendezvous Control of Electric Fixed‐Wing Uavs: A Hierarchical Multi‐Objective MPC Approach.

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Title: Energy‐Efficient Aerial Rendezvous Control of Electric Fixed‐Wing Uavs: A Hierarchical Multi‐Objective MPC Approach.
Authors: Zhang, Xiaotian1,2 (AUTHOR), He, Defeng3 (AUTHOR) hdfzj@zjut.edu.cn, Yang, Xu‐hua1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Optimal Control - Applications & Methods. Nov2025, Vol. 46 Issue 6, p2812-2828. 17p.
Subjects: Multi-objective optimization, Predictive control systems, Feedback control systems, Lithium cells, Energy consumption, Airplanes, Trajectory measurements
Abstract: This article proposes an energy‐efficient hierarchical multi‐objective model predictive control (MOMPC) strategy to address the aerial rendezvous problem of fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with aerial moving platforms. The study focuses on an electric fixed‐wing UAV (eUAV) powered by a Lithium‐Polymer (LiPo) battery, whose full dynamics are integrated with the kinematics of the aerial platform to establish a constrained rendezvous model. Based on this model, a hierarchical control architecture is developed to achieve dynamic trade‐offs between energy efficiency and rendezvous accuracy, while satisfying system‐level constraints and ensuring real‐time implementations. In the high‐layer, MOMPC is executed at a low frequency within a piecewise constant framework, where the multi‐objective problem with dynamically varying priorities is reformulated into two sequential lexicographic optimizations. The resulting optimal state trajectories are transmitted to the low‐layer controller, which operates at a higher frequency to ensure accurate trajectory tracking for aerial rendezvous. Additionally, a neural network‐based observer is embedded in the low‐layer to estimate and compensate for lumped disturbances. Theoretical analysis is provided to establish recursive feasibility and closed‐loop performance for both control layers. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in achieving accurate rendezvous with enhanced energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Optimal Control - Applications & Methods is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Energy‐Efficient Aerial Rendezvous Control of Electric Fixed‐Wing Uavs: A Hierarchical Multi‐Objective MPC Approach.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Xiaotian%22">Zhang, Xiaotian</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22He%2C+Defeng%22">He, Defeng</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> hdfzj@zjut.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Xu‐hua%22">Yang, Xu‐hua</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Optimal+Control+-+Applications+%26+Methods%22">Optimal Control - Applications & Methods</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 46 Issue 6, p2812-2828. 17p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multi-objective+optimization%22">Multi-objective optimization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictive+control+systems%22">Predictive control systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Feedback+control+systems%22">Feedback control systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lithium+cells%22">Lithium cells</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+consumption%22">Energy consumption</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Airplanes%22">Airplanes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trajectory+measurements%22">Trajectory measurements</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This article proposes an energy‐efficient hierarchical multi‐objective model predictive control (MOMPC) strategy to address the aerial rendezvous problem of fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with aerial moving platforms. The study focuses on an electric fixed‐wing UAV (eUAV) powered by a Lithium‐Polymer (LiPo) battery, whose full dynamics are integrated with the kinematics of the aerial platform to establish a constrained rendezvous model. Based on this model, a hierarchical control architecture is developed to achieve dynamic trade‐offs between energy efficiency and rendezvous accuracy, while satisfying system‐level constraints and ensuring real‐time implementations. In the high‐layer, MOMPC is executed at a low frequency within a piecewise constant framework, where the multi‐objective problem with dynamically varying priorities is reformulated into two sequential lexicographic optimizations. The resulting optimal state trajectories are transmitted to the low‐layer controller, which operates at a higher frequency to ensure accurate trajectory tracking for aerial rendezvous. Additionally, a neural network‐based observer is embedded in the low‐layer to estimate and compensate for lumped disturbances. Theoretical analysis is provided to establish recursive feasibility and closed‐loop performance for both control layers. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in achieving accurate rendezvous with enhanced energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Optimal Control - Applications & Methods is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/oca.70030
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 2812
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Multi-objective optimization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Predictive control systems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Feedback control systems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lithium cells
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Energy consumption
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Airplanes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trajectory measurements
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Energy‐Efficient Aerial Rendezvous Control of Electric Fixed‐Wing Uavs: A Hierarchical Multi‐Objective MPC Approach.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Xiaotian
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          Name:
            NameFull: He, Defeng
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            NameFull: Yang, Xu‐hua
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 01432087
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              Value: 46
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            – TitleFull: Optimal Control - Applications & Methods
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