Flight Control Dynamics & UAVs

Outline Their history Basic flight controls Roll Pitch Their benefits Where they are headed Questions

Their History: The first UAV was developed in 1917 – it was a crude motorized bomb They were developed for risky military operations They are still mainly used in the military, but they are also used in weather fields

Flight Controls Several systems to be controlled Many of them are simple, or can be simplified for a model Most on different platforms

Roll – Actual Block Diagram

Roll – Model Block Diagram Gain = 0.16 From this ζ turns out to be 0.45 and ωn is 1.34.

Pitch de=0.2;A=[ ; ; ]; B=[0.232; ; 0]; C=[0 0 1]; D=[0]; step(A,B*de,C,D)

Pitch – with feedback & PID controller de=0.2; Kp=2.9; Kd=3.5; Ki=3; numo=[ ]; deno=[ ]; numpid=[Kd Kp Ki]; denpid=[1 0]; num1=conv(numo,numpid); den1=conv(deno,denpid); [numc,denc] = cloop(num1,den1); t=0:0.01:10; step (de*numc,denc,t)

Benefits of UAVs Safety No pilot to be shot down Can fly into hurricanes or at low altitudes over the ocean Little damage when they crash due to their light weight Affordability 40 – 70% less than equivalent manned aircraft Advancement of science and controls

The future of UAVs Continued use in military and weather applications Cargo and supplies transportation (5-8) Interplanetary exploration (10-15) Personal carrier (?) Civilian transportation (?)

Questions?