Modelling, Simulation, Analysis and Stabilization of a Flying Wing

11/25/2019

This thesis aims to develop a realistic simulator based on a nonlinear model with six degrees of freedom of a flying wing with the purpose of serving as a tool for studying the aircraft within different environments, as well as for mission planning and stability control design, to add further proof of concept for the HABAIR project. Such tools can be useful for validating aircraft designs, minimizing the process of trial and error in physical implementations. The popularity of this type of aircraft has risen in the past years, allowing for cost-effective mapping, monitoring and surveillance. To guarantee that the simulator is realistic, models for atmosphere, aerodynamics and propulsion are integrated with the Newton-Euler equations for rigid body motion and kinematics equations. The flying wing flight envelope is determined as a function of altitude and airspeed. Trimming and linearization functions are developed as means of achieving and analysing the linearized versions of the nonlinear model. The longitudinal and lateral models, consequence of the linearization, allow the use of classical tools of analysis for the evaluation of the system dynamics throughout the flight envelope. The trimming and linearization functions are validated by comparing the responses of the nonlinear and linearized models. In the end, the simulator implementation is presented, as well as a study of the aircraft model regarding maneuverability, dynamics, controllability, ensuring the feasibility of the used flying wing aircraft for autonomous flight over a wide flight envelope.

Authors in the community:

• 

  J

  João Carlos Leitão Parreira

  ist175388

Supervisors of this institution:

• 

  A

  Alexandra Moutinho

  ist13959

• 

  J

  José Raul Carreira Azinheira

  ist12745

mechanical-engineering - Mechanical engineering

por - Portuguese

Instituto Superior Técnico