A High-Gain Observer Approach to Robust Trajectory Estimation and Tracking for a Multi-rotor UAV

We study the problem of estimating and tracking an unknown trajectory with a multi-rotor UAV in the presence of modeling error and external disturbances. The reference trajectory is unknown and generated from a reference system with unknown or partially known dynamics. We assume the only measurements that are available are the position and orientation of the multi-rotor and the position of the reference system. We adopt an extended high-gain observer (EHGO) estimation framework to estimate the unmeasured multi-rotor states, modeling error, external disturbances, and the reference trajectory. We design a robust output feedback controller for trajectory tracking that comprises a feedback linearizing controller and the EHGO. The proposed control method is rigorously analyzed to establish its stability properties. Finally, we illustrate our theoretical results through numerical simulation and experimental validation in which a multi-rotor tracks a moving ground vehicle with unknown trajectory and dynamics and successfully lands on the vehicle while in motion.