Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management

Simulation and Measurement of Plume Characteristics of a Hall Thruster with 12.5 kW

2025-02-05T05:47:37-03:00

To rapidly and cheaply obtain the plume characteristics of a 12.5 kW Hall thruster, a simulation model based on the fluid method is developed, and a plume measurement is conducted to verify and compare with the simulations. The results show that the discharge process will mainly occur in the upper part of the discharge channel, and the error between simulations and measurements of the magnetic field is less than 5%. The pressure in the discharge channel is the highest and the average pressure is about 0.12 Pa. In the plume diffusion region, the plasma density decays slightly along the axial direction and rapidly in the radial direction. Additionally, the plasma density and the electron temperature from the discharge channel outlet to the upper boundary of the plume region are in the range of 6.2 × 10¹⁶ to 5.2 × 10¹⁷m^-3 and 1.8 to 12.2 eV, respectively. In the plume measurement, a single Faraday probe is used to scan and measure the beam current, and the simulations are consistent with the experiments. The simulation model basically achieves the purpose of obtaining the plume characteristics with certain accuracy, low cost and rapidly.

Feasibility Assessment of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Precision Approach Path Indicator Inspections: a Cost-Effective and Sustainable Alternative

2025-04-03T19:30:17-03:00

The use of unmanned aerial platforms has increasingly been demanded in various applications. Among these, in-flight inspection stands out, traditionally conducted by aircraft equipped with various sensors to verify the performance requirements of ground-installed navigation aids, as well as air navigation procedures for operational and airworthiness purposes. In-flight inspection is costly in terms of time, qualified personnel, necessary equipment, flight hours, and operational impact on the inspected aerodrome. In this context, the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) emerges as a potentially cost-effective alternative, with the potential to significantly reduce the costs associated with the in-flight inspection of navigation aids. This work presents the methodology and results of in-flight inspection of the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) using UAS. The results presented are selected from over a dozen field campaigns, wherein inspection procedures were adapted to replace conventional aircraft with UAS. The results were compared to traditional inspections performed by the conventional aircraft crewed with professional flight inspectors. The findings indicate a strong similarity between the UAS methodology and conventional inspection, suggesting that UAS could partially or completely replace conventional inspections, significantly reducing the time, costs, and impact of inspections carried out by conventional aircraft.

A Virtualized Architecture for Software-in-the-Loop Testing Applied to the LEON3 Processor

2025-04-02T06:52:52-03:00

The increasing complexity of embedded systems in aerospace missions, particularly within the New Space paradigm, calls for more agile and cost-effective approaches to software and hardware integration. Traditional prototype-heavy development cycles are being replaced by virtualization and emulation techniques that support faster, iterative validation. Despite the growing adoption of such techniques, few studies propose a flexible and stable software-in-the-loop (SIL) framework tailored to emulated environments in the aerospace sector, especially considering open-source and widespread tools and technologies. This work addresses this gap by introducing a formal and adaptable SIL testing architecture based on the Quick EMUlator (QEMU), an open-source emulation platform, as its core. The framework targets the LEON3 processor, widely used in aerospace applications, and was validated through three sequential test scenarios integrating emulated environments and physical counterparts. These tests assessed software correctness, logical consistency, and timing behavior. Results confirmed full test success rates and the logical fidelity of the virtualized system, while revealing inherent timing discrepancies, characterized by an average advance of 20 ms in processing and transmission times compared to the physical counterpart. Despite these differences, the framework demonstrated sufficient accuracy and reliability for software testing in virtualized environments, provided its timing variations are properly accounted for.

Systematic testing approach for communicating software embedded in nanosatellites focusing on interoperability faults

2025-03-24T19:45:58-03:00

CubeSats, small standardized commercial satellites, have emerged as platforms for carrying scientific instruments and qualifying innovative technologies in space. However, the high mission failure rate during the launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) has drawn attention to insufficient testing in their development process. Unlike traditional satellites, the shortened project life cycle of CubeSat missions often limits verification and validation (V&V) activities. Traditional V&V approaches address interoperability issues late in development, leading to time-consuming rework when nonconformities are identified during system integration. This paper proposes a Scalable Architecture Test System (SATS) to support the verification of interoperability requirements of CubeSats’ embedded software early in development. Interoperability models for two communicating software components are specified, from which test cases are automatically derived and software codes are generated to be embedded in programmable boards connected to a CubeSat communication channel. This architecture supports test execution in a model-in-the-loop (MIL) concept to verify requirements and later validate the implementation, when real hardware replaces simulated models. The approach’s effectiveness in early detection of faults is demonstrated in the NanosatC-BR2 project developed at the National Institute of Space Research (INPE), allowing the correction of the specification of software components earlier in satellite development.

Reliability Importance Analysis of a Multi-State System with Binary Components Using Survival Signature

2025-03-22T06:15:38-03:00

Reliability assessment of a multi-state system with binary state components (MSS-BC) is highly practical because the assumption that the system has a binary state system (BSS) is often unrealistic in many engineering applications. The main research problem is to determine the state of the MSS-BC based on the minimal path required for system operation and to evaluate its components’ importance. Such information is essential for purposes such as component prioritization, reliability improvement, and risk reduction (RR), allowing for the identification of a system’s weaknesses or critical components and the quantification of the impact of their failures on an MSS-BC. In this paper, a new reliability assessment approach for MSS-BC is presented, based on disjoint product forms of minimal path sets and survival signature. It also introduces methods for the Birnbaum importance (BI), improvement potential (IP), and RR measures using these concepts. Both the numerical case and the case study presented a driving subsystem in aerospace engineering to demonstrate the applicability of the approach for MSS-BC. The proposed technique shows clear superiority and potential for applications in aerospace engineering.

Challenges of Computer Vision for Commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Detection

2025-03-18T06:41:30-03:00

The study aims to analyze the existing computer vision techniques for commercial drone detection to identify their advantages, disadvantages, and determine the best approaches in different application scenarios. The research methodology used synthesis methods to explore and propose combinations of techniques based on an analysis of the methodology and results of other works in the literature. It employed algorithms and sensor data analysis to assess the effectiveness of detection methods, and deduction to formulate hypotheses and conclusions based on data and theories. The main research results include the development of computer vision methods for detecting commercial drones, identifying their visual detectability at different altitudes, analyzing different object detection methods, and evaluating the applicability of these methods for commercial applications. In addition, the study identified the advantages and disadvantages of applying computer vision to commercial drone detection and offered recommendations for further research and practical implementation. The practical value of this study is to improve the detection systems of commercial drones, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of their use.

A Multi-Modal Traffic Classification-Based Device Identification Method

2025-03-07T05:08:06-03:00

Internet of things (IoT) devices are widely used in various fields, with their growing diversity and complexity posing challenges for traditional security measures. Device fingerprint identification can enhance network security and reliability by verifying device features. However, traditional device fingerprint identification methods usually rely on a single mode of traffic characteristics. In the face of changing network environments and diversified device types, it is often difficult to ensure efficient identification performance and robustness. To address the above challenges, this paper proposes a multi-modal traffic classification method for device identification in IoT networks to address the challenges in accuracy and robustness posed by traditional single-modal traffic feature approaches. The method combines various traffic features, such as packet size, transmission interval, flow duration, packet rate, byte rate, and protocol number. It includes four modules: data collection, preprocessing, model training, and fingerprint identification. Network traffic data are collected using deep packet inspection and capture tools, and features are standardized. The bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) model is applied for sensitive text feature extraction, while the convolutional neural network (CNN) model aids in device identification. Experimental results demonstrate high accuracy and robustness across different network environments and device types.

Multi-Criteria Conceptual Design Analysis of Single Stage Suborbital Launch Vehicle

2025-02-12T19:34:06-03:00

This paper presents the design analysis of a suborbital launch vehicle by performing a multidisciplinary optimization analysis. The design problem consists of establishing the optimized launch scenario using the interior point optimization method. The minimization of the objective function (the total mass of the launch vehicle) is validated by a multi-criteria approach. It is shown that establishing the performance of the launch vehicle should meet the criteria of security and control during the launch mission. The security aspect is represented by adherence to the dynamic pressure for structural matters of the launch vehicle and the acceleration, represented by the G-force, which should remain tolerable. Control is denoted by keeping the vehicle’s velocity within the range required for a suborbital flight mission. The approach followed is appealingly constructive for conserving the multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) formulation for a post-performance analysis.

A Close Multi-Target Tracking Algorithm Based on Weight Correction

2024-10-23T19:40:02-03:00

When multiple targets are close to each other and intersect, the Gaussian mixture probability hypothesis density (GM-PHD) filtering algorithm experiences degraded tracking performance. To address this problem, a neighborhood multi-target tracking optimization algorithm based on weight correction is proposed. In the proposed method, a proximity monitoring mechanism is first introduced to detect the distance between targets. Next, the similarity between the measured data and the target predicted value is calculate to form a similarity matrix. If there are multiple data points in a row of the similarity matrix exceed the threshold, further correction should be performed on the data in that row. Finally, the weight correction matrix is formed by combining the above two steps. Simulation results demonstrate that the tracking accuracy and stability of the proposed algorithm are significantly improved in scenarios of multi-target intersection and parallel tracking, and its performance is better than that of the traditional GM-PHD filtering algorithm.

Methodology for Controlling Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Landing on a Ground Wheeled Robot Tethered by Cable

2025-01-27T19:04:50-03:00

For a robotic heterogeneous complex (RHC) consisting of a ground wheeled robot (GWR) and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) connected by a tether mechanism (TM) and subject to steady wind acting on the UAV, a methodology for selecting control parameters for UAV landing on the GWR is considered. Landing is proposed along the straight line connecting the tether attachment point on the UAV with its base on the GWR. A synthesis of control for the TM and UAV engines was carried out to ensure landing within a predetermined time. A corresponding mathematical model of UAV and TM motion was derived. It is shown that the UAV’s equilibrium positions along the line are stable, ensuring minimal engine energy consumption during landing. A synthesis of piecewise-linear damping coefficients in the control systems for the TM and UAV engines was performed by selecting moments of slope change based on synchronizing the instantaneous tether length and the distance from the UAV to the landing point. Simulation of the full equations of motion confirmed the feasibility of the proposed UAV landing methodology on the GWR and the validity of the assumptions made.

Air Corridor-Based Optimization of Chinese Airspace and Carbon Emission Analysis

2025-01-18T14:41:19-03:00

This study theoretically delineates China’s current airspace based on airspace management rules, primarily by constructing air corridors to optimize the existing structure, with validation through aviation carbon emissions analysis. First, seven air corridors were delineated based on route clustering analysis, and their significance was further evaluated through carbon emission efficiency comparison. The results show that: 1) the seven corridors are mainly located in central and eastern China, forming a “diamond-shaped three-dimensional structure”; 2) there are significant differences in operational scale among the corridors, with the Harbin-Haikou route being the most active and the Chongqing-Zhuhai route the least; 3) the total carbon emissions from the seven corridors amount to 619,431 tons, with carbon emissions and efficiency positively correlated with aircraft type, cruising time, and operational scale; 4) the flight density within established corridors is higher than before their formation, and they accommodate more flights. This study provides a broad coverage, highlighting the structural characteristics of China’s airspace.

Fixed-time delay calculation method based on fuse-warhead coordination: Approach cases and application to the small target platform

2025-01-14T19:31:05-03:00

This paper presents a method for calculating the delay time and determining the fixed delay components for laser fuzes installed on man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), targeting small aerial vehicles such as cruise missiles. The method is based on the “kinematic-geometric” relationship between the missile, fragments, and the target, ensuring that the average fragment trajectory passes through the target’s center. Approach scenarios are divided into zones, with each zone using a common delay component. The laser beam’s inclination angle is aligned with the average fragment trajectory, ensuring delay time independence from miss distance. The approach zones are defined by kinematic relationships, including head-on or tail-chase modes and the azimuth angle. The delay time for each zone is calculated as the average delay across all scenarios within that zone. The method eliminates the effect of miss distance, with delay components dependent only on the missile’s direction of motion. A case study applying the model shows minimal error when using the average miss distance, and the results confirm that the fragment stream consistently hits the target across all approach scenarios. The proposed method offers an effective solution for accurately determining delay time and optimizing fuze performance in MANPADS.

Event-Triggered Finite-Time Consensus Scheme for Time-Delay Multi-Agent Systems with Settling Time Estimation and its Application

2025-01-11T10:33:26-03:00

This study addresses the finite-time formation control issues associated with time-delay multi-agent systems. To tackle the challenges of finite-time stability in delay systems, Artstein’s transformation is utilized. A distributed finite-time consensus algorithm is developed, incorporating an event-triggered control scheme and a corresponding triggering function to minimize unnecessary energy consumption and reduce the frequency of controller updates. The validity of the proposed approach is rigorously established through Lyapunov stability theory and finite-time stability theory, ensuring the absence of Zeno behavior. Furthermore, building upon the finite-time consensus algorithm, a finite-time formation control algorithm is formulated, enabling a group of agents to follow a designated leader while maintaining a specified formation shape. By employing feedback linearization, the unmanned aerial vehicle model is transformed into a precise linearized model. Finally, the application of this framework to formation control is presented, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed results.

Aircraft Maintenance Technician Perceptions and Evaluations about the Safety Culture and Responsibility Related Competencies

2024-12-23T06:07:48-03:00

Aircraft maintenance operations are carried out by aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) with the necessary competencies and qualifications. The level of competency of maintenance technicians directly affects the safety and effectiveness of maintenance operations and flight operations. The aim of this study is to determine the safety culture and responsibility competencies and assessment methods for AMTs. Data related to the study were collected by conducting individual interviews and focus group discussions with 83 participants. The data were analyzed using the content analysis method and coding technique. As a result of individual interviews and focus group discussions with the participants, it was decided to use “safety perception (30.14%)” “aviation culture (29.58%)” “personal protective equipment (PPE) (28.73%)” “risk perception (6.48%)” and “occupational health and safety (5.07%)” to assess safety culture competency. It was decided to use “attendance (40.08%)” “work ethics (25.95%)” “reporting and suggestion (18.99%)” and “health and wellness (14.98%)” to assess responsibility competency. It has been determined that individuals such as technicians with relevant competencies, human factors specialists, and aviation psychology specialists should take part as assessors, as well as safety management system (SMS), quality, and human resources units in the assessment processes of the competencies.

Application of the Unscented Kalman Filter for Tracking a Maneuvering Tank Modeled with a Second-Order Gauss-Markov Process: A Comparative Analysis with the Extended Kalman Filter

2024-12-06T18:56:15-03:00

This paper presents the application of the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) for estimating the dynamic states of a maneuvering tank using a second-order Gauss-Markov process model. The proposed method is effective in capturing the oscillatory characteristics, damping effects, and the impact of uncertain disturbances on the tank’s dynamics, leading to improved estimation accuracy compared to traditional linear methods. Simulation results demonstrate that the UKF outperforms the extended Kalman filter (EKF) in accurately estimating the tank’s position, velocity, and acceleration, even in the presence of significant noise and disturbances. This study highlights the superiority of the UKF in handling nonlinear dynamics and its potential application in military vehicle tracking systems.

Evaluation of a Wireless Data Transmission Using a Low-Cost Commercial-off-the-Shelf Wi-Fi Router Applied to Dynamic Tests

2024-12-02T14:59:39-03:00

The use of non-intrusive instrumentation has been growing in different scenarios in the industry. In the aerospace field, non-intrusive or hybrid instrumentation approaches have demonstrated robustness and viability, presenting significant advantages such as mass reduction of space vehicles, flexibility, and reduction of instrumentation lead time. This work presents a brief overview of a hybrid instrumentation system, in which the Wi-Fi standard communication protocol is highlighted. As a case study, the experimental structural modal analysis technique was adopted to show the technical advantages of using this promising data acquisition (DAq) system. To achieve this, test data were acquired using the traditional wired method between sensors, DAq, and the computer, as well as a wireless transmission protocol, via Wi-Fi, between the DAq and the computer. The comparisons of the results of the modal analysis experiments showed good agreement, indicating the Wi-Fi communication protocol is suitable and reliable for the tested scenario.

Cooperative Systems Increasing the Chance of Success of Innovative Projects: A Case from the Brazilian Aerospace Sector

2024-11-14T20:23:13-03:00

This paper addresses the use of cooperative systems in the management of innovative projects and their contribution to increasing the chances of success in the case study of the KC-390 Program, a significant project in the Brazilian aeronautical industry. Based on the administrative theory of cooperative systems, the study focuses on collaboration and trust in innovative projects, using the Technology Readiness Level as a guide for decisions. Complex products and systems require customized approaches due to their complexity and high engineering costs. Innovation in these projects depends on collaboration and trust between the developer and the requester. The methodology used includes applied and qualitative research, exploring bibliographic, documentary, and field research data. The KC-390 case study highlights the partnership between the Brazilian Air Force Command and Empresa Brasileira de Aeronaves (Embraer), evidencing how this relationship has been fundamental for technological development. The paper also explores the dual certification process of the KC-390, where the implementation of a collaborative process in the Conformity Demonstration Planning phase brought innovation to military certification. This innovation broke with the traditional paradigm of certification of aeronautical products in the country and was possible, mainly, due to the relationship of trust between the certifying authority and the integrating company.

Multi-Objective Task Scheduling for Earth Observation InSAR Satellites via Non-Dominated Sorting Student Psychology Based Optimization Algorithm

2024-11-12T10:03:10-03:00

This paper investigates the task scheduling problem for the Earth observation Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) satellite system. The mission time window generation method is introduced, and the constraint satisfaction model for task scheduling in the InSAR satellite system is constructed. To address the mission allocation issue between the chief satellite and deputy satellites, a mission conflict detection and resolution mechanism is developed. Moreover, based on the single-objective student psychology-based optimization (SPBO) algorithm, a modified non-dominated sorting SPBO (NSSPBO) algorithm is proposed to tackle the multi-objective task scheduling problem for the InSAR satellite system. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed NSSPBO algorithm.

Modelling and Neuro-Adaptive Robust Control Algorithms for Solid Fuel Rockets

2024-11-10T17:51:05-03:00

This study presents the development of a methodology for designing neuro-adaptive robust controllers based on a reference model associated with an artificial neural network of radial basis functions (ANN-RBF) for solid fuel suborbital rockets. The modelling and neuro-adaptive robust control algorithms for these rockets are presented. Initially, the methodology is evaluated for a robust controller based on a reference model with ANN-RBF for altitude control. The main objective of the control is to suppress the effect of non-linear uncertainties inherent in the process. The method involves mathematical and computational modelling, together with the design of adaptive controllers for stability and performance analysis. The controllers considered include model reference adaptive control (MRAC) techniques and a model reference neuro-adaptive control (MRNAC) approach. The analysis, carried out using computer simulations, evaluates the behavior of each controller in relation to system stability and performance. The final objective is to select the most suitable controller for the suborbital rocket, taking into account the system constraints, robust performance requirements, robust stability, and optimal adaptability. This research promotes the development of adaptive controllers for suborbital rockets, with possible applications in scientific research and commercial launches.

Presentation

2025-05-04T15:19:29-03:00

Air transport management enables global economic and social development by connecting people, goods, and markets in an agile and efficient manner. Regions with sparse populations, rugged terrain, and limited surface-transport options depend even more heavily on air services. Balancing expansion, modernization, and mitigation of environmental impacts must be a priority for public administration, airport and airline operators, authorities, and researchers, requiring solutions based on scientific evidence.

Impact of Costs Related to International Roughness Index Variability on a Brazilian Runway

2025-05-02T19:59:58-03:00

The functional quality of runways (RWY) is a critical factor for the safety and comfort of airport operations. One of the main indices used to assess this quality is the International Roughness Index (IRI). Maintaining IRI values within acceptable limits is essential to avoid operational problems, reduce aircraft maintenance costs, and ensure safety. In this context, the aim of this article is to analyze whether there is variability in the IRI with maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) costs on a RWY. The research method used data provided by the National Agency for Civil Aviation (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil [ANAC]) for the years 2020, 2021, and 2023, collected by a laser profilometer. The results show that the interventions carried out in 2020 reduced the IRI values in 2021, improving the pavement condition. However, an increase in the IRI values was observed in 2023, indicating the onset of deterioration. The financial analysis showed that the most expensive interventions occurred in 2020 due to the need for pavement reconstruction, while in 2021, costs were lower due to preventive maintenance. In 2023, costs increased again, highlighting the importance of continuous M&R. In conclusion, fair M&R interventions are essential to maintain RWY quality and safety, prevent degradation, and avoid high future costs.

Risk Analysis of Fireworks Balloons in Brazilian Airspace

2025-04-29T18:24:03-03:00

This study assesses the aviation safety risks in Brazil posed by fireworks balloons, a cultural practice that has become a significant concern for air operations. The methodology involved analyzing Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos (CENIPA) data on notifications and recorded collisions from 2014 to 2023, using descriptive and statistical approaches, alongside the application of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) risk matrix to assess the probability and severity of collisions. The results reveal a high concentration of notifications in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Paraná, with a focus on the airports of Guarulhos (SBGR), Galeão (SBGL), Santos Dumont (SBRJ), Curitiba, Viracopos (SBKP), Congonhas (SBSP), and Campo de Marte (SBMT). The final risk analysis indicated that SBGR and SBGL airports present the highest collision risks, while SBRJ, despite not recording collisions, requires attention due to the high number of notifications. Additionally, SBKP and SBSP showed moderate risks, and SBMT, assessed using the general aviation risk matrix, exhibited a high risk for smaller aircraft. Pearson’s correlation (0.9157) between the number of notifications and collisions suggests that increased notifications are associated with a higher risk of collision. The study concludes with an urgent call for stricter regulations and preventive measures, emphasizing the need for new technologies to mitigate risks to Brazilian airspace.

Setting Airport Boarding Strategies Based on Passengers’ Operational Data through Machine Learning Techniques

2025-04-02T07:00:34-03:00

Boarding is crucial to turnaround time and can cause significant delays, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimating $30 billion in pre-pandemic losses. Previous studies on airport boarding focus on pre-defined strategies that often overlook passenger behavior. This has led to a lack of consensus on the best way to reduce boarding time and improve the level of service (LoS) in different contexts. To address this, this study proposes modeling boarding time using passenger behavior variables across different strategies by combining different techniques. A simulation of three boarding strategies is conducted using screening design of experiments (DOE) with 24 runs each, resulting in 72 samples for A320 boarding time estimation. Machine learning methods, including linear regression, k-nearest-neighbor (KNN), multi-layer-perceptron (MLP), random forest, and XGBoost, are then applied to the simulation data for analysis. As a result, a model that can be used to predict boarding time for a given context of passenger behavior is discussed. Although random forest and XGBoost showed the highest R-squared values, they presented overfitting. Linear regression, with an R-squared close to 0.5, reveals that boarding strategy and bag distribution are the most influential variables, consistent with the literature. Steffen’s strategy provides the lowest boarding time, averaging 12 ± 0.02 minutes to board 180 passengers.

Aeronautical Items Relevant to the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027

2025-02-26T19:19:48-03:00

During the World Radiocommunication Conference to be held in 2027 (WRC-27), resolutions or agenda items that could significantly impact the operation of existing services, including aeronautical ones, will be analyzed. Among these items, those that could directly or indirectly affect aviation, in the view of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), include new frequency allocations for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), new allocation for aeronautical mobile service (route), new allocations for the mobile satellite service, development of telecommunications on the Moon, and new allocations for space research and Earth exploration satellite services. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the spectrum management framework, with a particular focus on key WRC-27 agenda items affecting civil aviation. By examining the perspectives of ICAO, regulatory bodies, and industry stakeholders, it identifies potential risks to aeronautical services, their implications, and possible mitigation strategies, emphasizing the crucial role of regulatory agencies in safeguarding critical communication systems. As a valuable resource for decision-makers and researchers, this study enhances the understanding of spectrum allocation challenges and informs strategies for effective spectrum management.

A Method for PIO Suppression in Aircraft with Fly-By-Wire Controls: System Development and Validation via Flight Simulator Tests

2024-12-25T16:37:38-03:00

This article introduces a technique for suppressing pilot-induced oscillations (PIO) in aircraft equipped with fly-by-wire (FBW) flight controls. Drawing from the real-time oscillation verifier (ROVER) concept proposed by Mitchell and Hoh, in 1994, and an adaptive suppression system by Moura in 2018, the method involves dynamically adjusting stability derivatives via software during aircraft operation. The ROVER detects PIO conditions during flight, directing changes to the aircraft’s dynamics. Switching to a less susceptible model during PIO mitigates oscillations. The study focuses exclusively on longitudinal motion and pitch angle control. The proposed system is implemented and simulated using MATLAB routines, complemented by human pilot trials on a flight simulator. Results demonstrate real-time detection of PIO oscillations and effective mitigation, ensuring system integrity with acceptable degradation in flight qualities during transitions.