Systems Engineering and Electronics ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (1): 312-330.doi: 10.12305/j.issn.1001-506X.2026.01.28

• Guidance, Navigation and Control • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Heterogeneous formation control technology for unmanned marine vehicles: current status, challenges and perspectives

Wenkui LI1, Yawen ZHANG1,*, Wunong XU2, Yuhao YANG1, Peisen JIN1, Chenyang SHAN1   

  1. 1. School of Electrical Engineering,Naval University of Engineering,Wuhan 430033,China
    2. Unit 91405 of the PLA,Shanghai 200083,China
  • Received:2025-01-10 Online:2026-01-25 Published:2026-02-11
  • Contact: Yawen ZHANG

Abstract:

Heterogeneous formation of unmanned marine vehicles (UMVs) is a key cooperative operation mode in the future sea battlefield. In this paper, the concept and classification of heterogeneous formation of UMV and its current technological development are summarized, the research progress and main challenges of key technologies of UMV heterogeneous formation control from the aspects of control architectures, control theories, and communications are analyzed, and the future development direction is discussed from the aspects of intelligent control based on data-driven, communication constraints oriented combination of communication and control, building interoperability architecture, and intelligent fault-tolerant control.

Key words: unmanned marine vehicle, heterogeneous formation, control strategy, communication constraints

CLC Number: 

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