Hope College Department of Physics and Engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates Summer 2002 Project Summary

Project Title: Development of 6 Degree Of freedom (6-DOF) Simulation Model and Flight Control System
Student Name: Bryan Van Hal
Student’s home institution: Hope College
Research Advisor(s): Dr. Joseph Kaloust
Source of Support: Dean’s Fund
 

Project Summary:

The goal for research this summer was to develop a non-linear 6-DOF simulation model for aircraft. This model was previously constructed in MatrixX (an ISI software product), but since MatrixX is no longer the simulator software of choice, it had to be translated into Simulink (a Mathworks software product). The behavior of this model needed to be much like the MatrixX model, although certain minor discrepancies were both allowed and expected. Each block of the original model was translated by hand into the Simulink model with the exception of Block Script code that was pasted into an M-File and modified to run in an S-Function. In most cases the adaptation that was done from the original model to the Simulink model was minimal, but certain simplifications were made.

Each of the systems was categorized into blocks and sub-blocks to eliminate clutter. This made it easier to track down certain problems because the signal lines were easier to follow inside each subsystem, but it created some problems as the signal lines were harder to follow from one subsystem to another subsystem. This difficulty was amplified by muxes and S-Functions that do not label their inputs and outputs. Most of troubleshooting consisted of confirming that the signal lines were in fact going to the correct block.

After the entire model was completed in Simulink, several open loop guidance maneuvers were simulated to ensure correct output responses. All tests were successful. The angle of attack, the sideslip angle, and the body roll angle all reached the proper values.

Various output data was collected and plotted for several guidance commands. The data was used in a flight simulator (AVDS) for visualization purposes. From the simulation it was confirmed that the aircraft would indeed fly as it was supposed to for standard (and even extreme) commands. The following image shows the aircraft model in flight using the AVDS simulator.

For future applications, this model could be refined to include a guidance algorithm. This would allow the aircraft to authorize guidance commands as it saw fit. The guidance algorithm would reject any commands that the aircraft could not actually handle. The model could also be changed to include an aerodynamics database that would allow it to be more versatile. It currently can only model a certain aircraft under certain conditions.

I would like to thank Dr. Joseph Kaloust for all of his wonderful help and guidance on this project and Hope College who helped fund and facilitate the research.