Research on path generation and stability control method for UAV‐based intelligent spray painting of ships

Abstract This paper presents an intelligent path planning method with multiple constraints to solve the problem of instability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) intelligent spray painting (UAV‐ISP) systems for spray painting the outer panels of ships. Spray‐painting path planning is realized using the multiobjective particle swarm algorithm and ant colony algorithm. In addition, a stability control method for the UAV based on the linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) algorithm is proposed and controlled by Mission Planner ground station software to solve the stability control problem of UAVs during spray painting. Through the above two key technologies, the painting quality of the UAV‐ISP system is guaranteed. First, a three‐dimensional (3D) model of the ship was obtained in a 3D modeling environment. Then the paint paths were optimized using the multiobjective particle swarm algorithm. The optimized path planning results were then combined using the ant colony algorithm to obtain the final spray painting path. Force analysis of the UAV during spray painting was carried out using the Newton–Euler equation and catenary theory, and a mathematical model of the UAV spray‐painting system with multiload coupling was established. Finally, a stability control system for the spray‐painting UAV based on LADRC was designed. The experimental and simulation results show that the proposed painting path is accurate, the spray‐painting UAV has good stability, and the spray‐painting quality of the UAV‐ISP system meets the standards for the outer panels of ships.