Quaternion-based Unscented Kalman Filter for Robust Wrench Estimation of Human-UAV Physical Interaction

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Naser, Hussein, Hashim, Hashim A., Ahmadi, Mojtaba
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Naser, Hussein
Hashim, Hashim A.
Ahmadi, Mojtaba
author_facet Naser, Hussein
Hashim, Hashim A.
Ahmadi, Mojtaba
contents This paper introduces an advanced Quaternion-based Unscented Kalman Filter (QUKF) for real-time, robust estimation of system states and external wrenches in assistive aerial payload transportation systems that engage in direct physical interaction. Unlike conventional filtering techniques, the proposed approach employs a unit-quaternion representation to inherently avoid singularities and ensure globally consistent, drift-free estimation of the platform's pose and interaction wrenches. A rigorous quaternion-based dynamic model is formulated to capture coupled translational and rotational dynamics under interaction forces. Building on this model, a comprehensive QUKF framework is established for state prediction, measurement updates, and external wrench estimation. The proposed formulation fully preserves the nonlinear characteristics of rotational motion, enabling more accurate and numerically stable estimation during physical interaction compared to linearized filtering schemes. Extensive simulations validate the effectiveness of the QUKF, showing significant improvements over the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). Specifically, the QUKF achieved a 79.41\% reduction in Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) for torque estimation, with average RMSE improvements of 79\% and 56\%, for position and angular rates, respectively. These findings demonstrate enhanced robustness to measurement noise and modeling uncertainties, providing a reliable foundation for safe, stable, and responsive human-UAV physical interaction in cooperative payload transportation tasks.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_27328
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Quaternion-based Unscented Kalman Filter for Robust Wrench Estimation of Human-UAV Physical Interaction
Naser, Hussein
Hashim, Hashim A.
Ahmadi, Mojtaba
Systems and Control
This paper introduces an advanced Quaternion-based Unscented Kalman Filter (QUKF) for real-time, robust estimation of system states and external wrenches in assistive aerial payload transportation systems that engage in direct physical interaction. Unlike conventional filtering techniques, the proposed approach employs a unit-quaternion representation to inherently avoid singularities and ensure globally consistent, drift-free estimation of the platform's pose and interaction wrenches. A rigorous quaternion-based dynamic model is formulated to capture coupled translational and rotational dynamics under interaction forces. Building on this model, a comprehensive QUKF framework is established for state prediction, measurement updates, and external wrench estimation. The proposed formulation fully preserves the nonlinear characteristics of rotational motion, enabling more accurate and numerically stable estimation during physical interaction compared to linearized filtering schemes. Extensive simulations validate the effectiveness of the QUKF, showing significant improvements over the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). Specifically, the QUKF achieved a 79.41\% reduction in Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) for torque estimation, with average RMSE improvements of 79\% and 56\%, for position and angular rates, respectively. These findings demonstrate enhanced robustness to measurement noise and modeling uncertainties, providing a reliable foundation for safe, stable, and responsive human-UAV physical interaction in cooperative payload transportation tasks.
title Quaternion-based Unscented Kalman Filter for Robust Wrench Estimation of Human-UAV Physical Interaction
topic Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.27328