Sefer Kurnaz

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system based autonomous flight control of unmanned air vehicles

In this paper, an ANFIS (adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system) based autonomous flight controller for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) is described. To control the position of the UAV in three dimensional space as altitude and longitude-latitude location, three fuzzy logic modules are developed. These adjust the pitch angle, the roll angle and the throttle position of the UAV so that its altitude, the heading and the speed are controlled together. The implementation framework utilizes MATLABs standard configuration and the Aerosim Aeronautical Simulation Block Set which provides a complete set of tools for rapid development of detailed six degree-of-freedom nonlinear generic manned/unmanned aerial vehicle models. To demonstrate the performance and potential of the controllers, the Aerosonde UAV model is used. Flight Gear open source flight simulator and Gauges Block Set are deployed in order to get visual outputs that aid the designer in the evaluation of the controllers. Steep turn maneuvers which are used for basic training of pilots are applied to test the performance of the fuzzy logic controllers. Despite the simple design procedure, the simulated test flights indicate the capability of the approach in achieving the desired performance.

Fuzzy Logic Based Approach to Design of Flight Control and Navigation Tasks for Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This paper proposes a fuzzy logic based autonomous navigation controller for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Three fuzzy logic modules are developed under the main navigation system for the control of the altitude, the speed, and the heading, through which the global position (latitude–longitude) of the air vehicle is controlled. A SID (Standard Instrument Departure) and TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) approach is used and the performance of the fuzzy based controllers is evaluated with time based diagrams under MATLAB’s standard configuration and the Aerosim Aeronautical Simulation Block Set which provides a complete set of tools for rapid development of detailed six-degree-of-freedom nonlinear generic manned/unmanned aerial vehicle models. The Aerosonde UAV model is used in the simulations in order to demonstrate the performance and the potential of the controllers. Additionally, FlightGear Flight Simulator and GMS aircraft instruments are deployed in order to get visual outputs that aid the designer in the evaluation of the controllers. Despite the simple design procedure, the simulated test flights indicate the capability of the approach in achieving the desired performance.

Fuzzy Logic Based Approach to Design of Autonomous Landing System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This paper is concerned with autonomous flight of UAVs and proposes a fuzzy logic based autonomous flight and landing system controller. Besides three fuzzy logic controllers which are developed for autonomous navigation for UAVs in a previous work as fuzzy logic based autonomous mission control blocks, three more fuzzy logic modules are developed under the main landing system for the control of the horizontal and the vertical positions of the aircraft against the runway under a TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) approach. The performance of the fuzzy logic based controllers is evaluated using the standard configuration of MATLAB and the Aerosim Aeronautical Simulation Block Set which provides a complete set of tools for rapid development of 6 degree-of-freedom nonlinear generic manned/unmanned aerial vehicle models. Additionally, FlightGear Flight Simulator and GMS aircraft instruments are deployed in order to get visual outputs that aid the designer in evaluating the performance and the potential of the controllers. The simulated test flights on an Aerosonde indicate the capability of the approach in achieving the desired performance despite the simple design procedure.

Potential field-based navigation task for autonomous flight control of unmanned aerial vehicles

This paper proposes to generate potential fields for navigation task of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which have fuzzy logic- (FL-)based autonomous flight controls. Three FL modules are developed under the navigation system for the control of the altitude, the speed and the heading, through which the global position of vehicle is controlled. A potential field block designed by using sigmoid and normal functions. Limiting functions are defined to provide the circling pattern and to limit the elliptical shape. The output of block produces a two-dimensional elliptical shape as the fight pattern with the target point being in the centre of the shape. The gradient of the potential vectors is used to generate tables (GPS-based). All modules are developed in the Matlab. Despite the simple design procedure, the simulated test flights indicate the capability of the approach in achieving the desired performance.

A frugal fuzzy logic based approach for autonomous flight control of unmanned aerial vehicles

This paper proposes a fuzzy logic based autonomous flight controller for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Three fuzzy logic modules are developed for the control of the altitude, the speed, and the roll angle, through which the altitude and the latitude-longitude of the air vehicle are controlled. The implementation framework utilizes MATLABs standard configuration and the Aerosim Aeronautical Simulation Block Set which provides a complete set of tools for rapid development of detailed 6 degree-of-freedom nonlinear generic manned/unmanned aerial vehicle models. The Aerosonde UAV model is used in the simulations in order to demonstrate the performance and the potential of the controllers. Additionally, Microsoft Flight Simulator and FlightGear Flight Simulator are deployed in order to get visual outputs that aid the designer in the evaluation of the controllers. Despite the simple design procedure, the simulated test flights indicate the capability of the approach in achieving the desired performance.

Rare vegetation change detection in the Gobustan Conservation Area, Azerbaijan

The Gobustan State National Park (Conservation Area) is a nationally important desert/semi-desert located west and south-west of Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2007 Gobustan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered being of “outstanding universal value” for the quality and density of its rock art engravings. The Study Area at Gobustan contains a wealth of historical and archaeological sites and is also known for its rare vegetation.

Project management/society benefits - Spatial data integrated into geographic information system

On November 4, 2003, the Board of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, approved lending to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline and the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) Phase 1 oil field. The BTC pipeline is a dedicated crude oil pipeline system, which extending from the ACG field through Azerbaijan and Georgia to a terminal at Ceyhan on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The pipeline transports up to 1 million barrels per day, and at 1760 kilometers is one of the longest of its kind in the world. The BTC pipeline complements oil transport from two existing pipelines - the Northern Route pipeline to Novorossiysk, Russia and the Western Route pipeline which ends in Supsa, Georgia.

Advances space technology for project management in early stage of the design work

Geographical information System (GIS) is an instrument for integration appropriate spatial data into the geographical system. The data based on space information received from satellite for the purpose needed to be considered for indicated problem solution can be provided by using remote sensing methods throughout satellite images. This instrument allows gathering, storing, analyzing, editing, sharing information and successfully using in wide required areas. In the meantime GIS is a tool creating an environment for interactive quires, analyze the spatial information, edit data, develop maps and present outcomes of all these operations.

Monitoring of The Impacts of the Natural Disaster Based on The Use of Space Technology

The forecasting, mitigation and preparedness of the natural disaster impacts require relevant information regarding the disaster desirable in real time. In the meantime it is requiring the rapid and continuous data and information generation or gathering for possible prediction and monitoring of the natural disaster. Since disasters that cause huge social and economic disruptions normally affect large areas or territories and are linked to global change. The use of traditional and conventional methods for management of the natural disaster impact can not be effectively implemented for intial data collection with the further processing. The space technology or remote sensing tools offer excellent possibilities of collecting vital data. The main reason is capability of this technology of collecting data at global and regional scales rapidly and repetitively. This is unchallenged advantage of the space methods and technology. The satellite or remote sensing techniques can be used to monitor the current situation, the situation before based on the data in sight. as well as after disaster occurred. They can be used to provide baseline data against which future changes can be compared while the GIS techniques provide a suitable framework for integrating and analyzing the many types of data sources required for disaster monitoring. Developed GIS is an excellent instrument for definition of the social impact status of the natural disaster which can be undertaken in the future database developments. This methodology is a good source for analysis and dynamic change studies of the natural disaster impacts.

Starting a space studies education program in turkey

This is based on the experience in the development of the space studies program at the graduate school of the Turkish Air Force Academy, Aeronautics and Space Technologies Institute (ASTIN). ASTIN developed the program primarily for the needs of the Turkish Air Force and the Turkish Government. This paper includes a brief analysis of the requirements and a discussion of the available capabilities in the country, resulting from a survey of similar programs both in Turkey and the rest of the world. A description of the program which evolved from the effort is also given