Hardware-in-the-loop testing of a miniaturized real time flutter monitoring system for UAVs

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicles continue to drive innovative aircraft designs, introducing new challenges to the aeroelastic stability of aircraft. Hardware-in-the-Loop HIL systems provide a powerful platform for testing complex real time embedded systems. The challenges of identifying and tracking modal parameters as an indicator of flutter are still unresolved. In this work a HIL system is used to test a miniaturized real time FLUtter monitorinG system FLUG. The hardware consisted of custom electronics and mini computers, a real time controller was used to run the aeroservoelastic model. An onboard computer was integrated to perform signal processing, modal analysis and tracking and send results via telemetry to a ground station. The system was demonstrated during a virtual flight test campaign. Eight modes were identified and tracked throughout the flight. A clear trend of decreasing damping with increasing flight speed and altitude were observed which can be used as a flutter indicator when approaching the edge of the flight envelope.