HELICOPTER SIMULATION
- DESCRIPTION
-
Nonlinear, high fidelity simulations are an essential tool in aerospace control systems designs. This is especially true for the Aerial Robotics competition, where accurate simulation can help to validate the control laws without requiring extensive, and potentially unsafe, flight tests.
A helicopter simulation is at an advanced stage of development at the ICE lab: the simulation software architecture is based on a multiprocess client/server approach, where MATLAB, an OpenGL graphical 3D rendering process and external system, like a remote controller or the on-board computer, will interact to give a real-time simulation. The helicopter dynamics model is derived from a similar simulation developed by the C.S. Draper Laboratory.
This approach is particularly appropriate for the control law development, as it allows the controls engineer to have full access to the MATLAB/Simulink environment and its facilities, while at the same time allowing for visual inspection of the behaviour of the simulated system.
And it makes for cool demos too... (wait for upcoming animations)
A snapshot of the sim The MATLAB/Simulink model
(click to get a larger image) - PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
-
Feron, E.
- RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
-
Vladislav Gavrilets (gavrick@mit.edu)
Emilio Frazzoli (frazzoli@mit.edu)
- LINKS
- Aerial Robotics Home Page