Distributed Leader-Follower Formation Tracking Control of Multiple Quad-rotors

The leader-follower formation control analysis for multiple quad-rotor systems is investigated in this paper. To achieve predefined formation in the three-dimensional air space ($x,y$ and $z$), a novel local tracking control law and a distributed observer are obtained. The local tracking control law starts with finding a bounded continuous yet greater-than-zero control in $z$, based on which following a feedback linearization controls derived for errors associated with $x$ and $y$. The distributed observer achieves position coordination among followers, though there are only partial followers can know the leader's states and only neighboring communication is available. Simulation results validate the proposed formation scheme.