Pushing and Rotating a Heavy Mass Rigid Body Using an Omnidirectional Aerial Manipulator

This paper presents the pushing and rotation of a heavy rigid body using an omnidirectional actively tilted aerial manipulator, controlled via a hybrid force/position controller. Unlike conventional unmanned aerial vehicles, the proposed system enables precise horizontal force application, making it ideal for aerial physical interaction tasks. The hybrid controller is implemented in the Robot Operating System and validated through extensive simulations in a Gazebo physics-engine-based environment. The manipulator's performance was evaluated in two scenarios: circular trajectory tracking and the rotation of a heavy rigid mass. Results demonstrated its capability to follow complex trajectories with high accuracy and exert sustained forces for object manipulation. The system exhibited excellent stability and precision, underscoring its potential for real-world applications in challenging environments.