A Two-Stage Residual Extended Kalman Filter using Extreme Gradient Boosting and Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks for terrain-aided Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Localization in Global Navigation Satellite System-denied environments.

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Title: A Two-Stage Residual Extended Kalman Filter using Extreme Gradient Boosting and Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks for terrain-aided Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Localization in Global Navigation Satellite System-denied environments.
Authors: Abdelkader, Mohamed1 (AUTHOR), Jarraya, Imen1 (AUTHOR) imenjarraya85@gmail.com, Gabr, Khaled1 (AUTHOR), Al-Batati, Abdulrahman S.1 (AUTHOR), AlMusalami, Abdullah1 (AUTHOR), Alahmed, Fatimah1 (AUTHOR), Boulila, Wadii1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence. Jun2026, Vol. 173, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Kalman filtering, Machine learning, Drone aircraft, Boosting algorithms, Digital elevation models, Multisensor data fusion
Geographic Terms: Saudi Arabia
Abstract: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) localization in Global Navigation Satellite Systems-denied environments faces significant challenges due to sensor limitations, environmental factors, and the absence of absolute positioning references. Visual-based methods degrade under sparse textures and illumination changes, while traditional sensor fusion approaches suffer from cumulative drift and poor adaptability to dynamic conditions. We propose the Two-Stage Residual Extended Kalman Filter (TSR-EKF), a hybrid framework that incorporates Machine Learning (ML)-based residual corrections into a probabilistic state estimator. The core novelty lies in a clear two-stage residual learning strategy: the approach employs eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) for coarse bias removal from terrain-induced and inertial errors, followed by Dense Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks (DenseKAN) for fine nonlinear residual refinement. These corrections are fused with Inertial Measurement Unit velocities and terrain-referenced measurements within an Extended Kalman Filter framework without altering its standard probabilistic structure. We conducted experimental validation using seven UAV flight trajectories over the Taif region, Saudi Arabia. These tests were performed in high-fidelity Gazebo simulations using actual terrain Digital Elevation Models (DEM). The results demonstrate clear and measurable performance gains. The TSR-EKF achieves root-mean-square error (RMSE) reductions of 57.4% to 98.9% compared to traditional EKF methods while maintaining sub-6m positioning accuracy and real-time computational feasibility with processing times under 2.1 ms per update. The framework exhibits exceptional robustness to sparse measurement conditions, making it suitable for mission-critical UAV operations in contested environments. Overall, these results highlight TSR-EKF as a practical and effective solution that combines Kalman filtering reliability with ML adaptability for robust autonomous navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science 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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  Data: A Two-Stage Residual Extended Kalman Filter using Extreme Gradient Boosting and Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks for terrain-aided Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Localization in Global Navigation Satellite System-denied environments.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Engineering+Applications+of+Artificial+Intelligence%22">Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 173, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kalman+filtering%22">Kalman filtering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Machine+learning%22">Machine learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drone+aircraft%22">Drone aircraft</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Boosting+algorithms%22">Boosting algorithms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+elevation+models%22">Digital elevation models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multisensor+data+fusion%22">Multisensor data fusion</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Saudi+Arabia%22">Saudi Arabia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) localization in Global Navigation Satellite Systems-denied environments faces significant challenges due to sensor limitations, environmental factors, and the absence of absolute positioning references. Visual-based methods degrade under sparse textures and illumination changes, while traditional sensor fusion approaches suffer from cumulative drift and poor adaptability to dynamic conditions. We propose the Two-Stage Residual Extended Kalman Filter (TSR-EKF), a hybrid framework that incorporates Machine Learning (ML)-based residual corrections into a probabilistic state estimator. The core novelty lies in a clear two-stage residual learning strategy: the approach employs eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) for coarse bias removal from terrain-induced and inertial errors, followed by Dense Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks (DenseKAN) for fine nonlinear residual refinement. These corrections are fused with Inertial Measurement Unit velocities and terrain-referenced measurements within an Extended Kalman Filter framework without altering its standard probabilistic structure. We conducted experimental validation using seven UAV flight trajectories over the Taif region, Saudi Arabia. These tests were performed in high-fidelity Gazebo simulations using actual terrain Digital Elevation Models (DEM). The results demonstrate clear and measurable performance gains. The TSR-EKF achieves root-mean-square error (RMSE) reductions of 57.4% to 98.9% compared to traditional EKF methods while maintaining sub-6m positioning accuracy and real-time computational feasibility with processing times under 2.1 ms per update. The framework exhibits exceptional robustness to sparse measurement conditions, making it suitable for mission-critical UAV operations in contested environments. Overall, these results highlight TSR-EKF as a practical and effective solution that combines Kalman filtering reliability with ML adaptability for robust autonomous navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science 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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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.engappai.2026.114430
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Kalman filtering
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Machine learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Drone aircraft
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Boosting algorithms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Digital elevation models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multisensor data fusion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Saudi Arabia
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: A Two-Stage Residual Extended Kalman Filter using Extreme Gradient Boosting and Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks for terrain-aided Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Localization in Global Navigation Satellite System-denied environments.
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            NameFull: Abdelkader, Mohamed
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            NameFull: Al-Batati, Abdulrahman S.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 173
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