Design of the flight management system for a shrouded-fan uninhabited aerial vehicle

Following a brief description of the program involving the realization of a rotary wing uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) for science applications, the flight management system of the vehicle is discussed in terms of sensors, flight computer, and software processes. Complicated and unstable dynamics of the baseline airframe, together with relevant uncertainties in the UAV model, prompted use of a robust multi-variable controller for stabilization and control augmentation. Control software is automatically generated and implemented in the onboard computer. Real-time, hardware-in-the-loop simulation is used to test and validate control algorithms as well as to collect data on response to pilot input and, finally, to assess and possibly improve the characteristics of the graphical user interface providing flight and mission data to the ground operator.