Graduate Researcher
Counter-UAS aerial capture
Led a counter-UAS aerial capture vehicle from simulation through developmental flight test.
- Flight test
- GNC
- cUAS
- Autonomy
01 / Project notes
Context
At Georgia Tech’s Aerial Robotics and Experimental Autonomy Lab, Turner led development of a counter-UAS aerial capture vehicle: an autonomous drone designed to intercept and capture aircraft.
02 / Project notes
Problem
The project pursued aerial capture as an alternative to projectile-based capture and electronic warfare. Its aim was to avoid projectile misfire risk and the collateral effects of jamming.
03 / Project notes
My role
Turner led the vehicle’s development from simulation and controller tuning through developmental flight testing.
04 / Project notes
Approach
MATLAB/Simulink and Gazebo simulations established a capability baseline and supported tuning of cascaded flight controllers.
Developmental flight testing then exposed behavior that the simulations had not revealed. Turner identified and mitigated actuator delay, motor saturation, and integrator windup.
05 / Project notes
Tools
MATLAB/Simulink · Gazebo · Cascaded flight controllers · Developmental flight test
06 / Project notes
Results
The work progressed from simulation to developmental flight test, where actuator delay, motor saturation, and integrator windup were found and mitigated.