Online Trimming of Flight Dynamics Models Using the 2Simulate Realtime Simulation Framework

Abstract

Real-time simulation requires the definition of scenarios, which may be defined on the ground or in the air. In-flight scenarios usually begin in a trimmed flight condition, so that the simulation model is in a steady state. At the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Air Vehicle Simulator (AVES) is operated for flight research and simulator studies. Research simulators require a high degree of flexibility to modify scenarios. Moreover, the flexibility to modify the simulation model poses a challenge to both the user interface and the trim procedure. Therefore, an adjustable user interface is required to allow the user to run the trim calculation online for immediate operation in a simulation run. This paper presents an implementation of a generic approach to trim flight dynamic models for use in research flight simulators. This implies both the implementation of a graphical user interface as well as the trim algorithm and their interaction. An example is demonstrated for a helicopter model used for research activities at DLR.