Modeling and flight simulation of unmanned aerial vehicle enhanced with fine tuning

This paper focuses on the complete process of building full six-degree-of-freedom, low cost, high fidelity simulation model of a small-unmanned aerial vehicle starting from scratch. The configuration used in this study is currently available propeller-driven radio controlled model airplane. Modeling its six-degree-of-freedom motion includes experimental measurements of geometric and inertia model, modeling of the propulsion system, estimation of the aerodynamic model, and experimental identification of control surfaces actuator model. The complete propulsion simulation model is validated by the wind tunnel test data of the airplane propulsion system. Piloted flight results for the airplane specific longitudinal maneuver with elevator control input are presented to highlight the results of the simulation model. The present work indicates that airplane parameter estimation from flight test data improves the accuracy of the developed flight simulation model.