Real-Time Wind Estimation for Fixed-Wing UAVs

Wind estimation plays a crucial role in atmospheric boundary layer research and aviation flight safety. Fixed-wing UAVs enable rapid and flexible detection across extensive boundary layer regions. Traditional meteorological fixed-wing UAVs require either additional wind measurement sensors or sustained turning maneuvers for wind estimation, increasing operational costs while inevitably reducing mission duration and coverage per flight. This paper proposes a real-time wind estimation method based on an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) without aerodynamic sensors. The approach utilizes only standard UAV avionics—GNSS, pitot tube, and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)—to estimate wind fields. To validate accuracy, the method was integrated into a meteorological UAV equipped with a wind vane sensor, followed by multiple flight tests. Comparison with wind vane measurements shows real-time wind speed errors below 1 m/s and wind direction errors within 20° (0.349 rad). Results demonstrate the algorithm’s effectiveness for real-time atmospheric boundary layer wind estimation using conventional fixed-wing UAVs.