Ocean Wave Characterization with UAS Range-Only Measurements

Ocean wave characterization is often performed using wave buoy measurements, and these wave characteristics are used to inform marine operations; however, wave buoy or radar measurements in a desired area are not always available. In this work, an uncrewed aerial system (UAS), integrated with two range sensors, is used to estimate wave characteristics of a local wave environment. Knowledge of sea level, the UAS pose, and the measurement from each range sensor are used to characterize the dominant wave period, significant wave height, mean wave height, top-tenth wave height, and wave direction. The discrete Fourier transform (DFT) is applied to wave height measurements from the range sensors to determine the dominant wave period and mean wave heights. The direction of wave propagation is found through a novel method of correlating range sensor measurements and analyzing the wave periods encountered by the UAS. For the simulations in this research, the sea state can be successfully characterized, and the wave propagation direction determined, from the sensor measurements in both sea states 3 and 5 conditions. Future work will focus on in-water verification of these findings.