A Software-in-the-Loop Scheme for Accurate Flight Co-Simulation with a Surrogate Hybrid Electric Propulsion Engine Model

Abstract

Flight simulation constitutes a valuable tool for the evaluation and testing of computational, real-time-capable models of aircraft (sub)systems and components under less idealised conditions than those typically used to test the individual models. In this work, a previously developed, high-accuracy computational model of an electric powertrain is coupled with a commercial flight simulation environment to evaluate the dynamic behaviour of the combined propulsion system under realistic conditions. The paper presents details of the interfaces between simulation environments and example flight experiments, highlighting the interactions between the them and the model under test.