BPMP-Tracker: A Versatile Aerial Target Tracker Using Bernstein Polynomial Motion Primitives

TL;DR

This paper introduces BPMP-Tracker, a versatile aerial target tracking system that predicts target motion and plans collision-free, occlusion-aware trajectories using Bernstein polynomial properties, effective in complex environments.

Contribution

The paper develops a novel trajectory planning pipeline employing Bernstein polynomials and a sample-check-select strategy for rapid, versatile aerial target tracking in challenging scenarios.

Findings

Effective in complex unstructured environments

Handles multiple dynamic obstacles and targets

Validated through simulations and hardware experiments

Abstract

This letter presents a versatile trajectory planning pipeline for aerial tracking. The proposed tracker is capable of handling various chasing settings such as complex unstructured environments, crowded dynamic obstacles and multiple-target following. Among the entire pipeline, we focus on developing a predictor for future target motion and a chasing trajectory planner. For rapid computation, we employ the sample-check-select strategy: modules sample a set of candidate movements, check multiple constraints, and then select the best trajectory. Also, we leverage the properties of Bernstein polynomials for quick calculations. The prediction module predicts the trajectories of the targets, which do not overlap with static and dynamic obstacles. Then the trajectory planner outputs a trajectory, ensuring various conditions such as occlusion and collision avoidance, the visibility of all targets within a camera image and dynamical limits. We fully test the proposed tracker in simulations and hardware experiments under challenging scenarios, including dual-target following, environments with dozens of dynamic obstacles and complex indoor and outdoor spaces.