Aerodynamic modeling and state-space model extraction of a UAV using DATCOM and Simulink

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a remotely controlled and auto-piloted vehicle capable to sustaining lift due to aerodynamic forces. It finds its application in military for reconnaissance and airstrikes, carrying out search and rescue operations, terrain mapping and so on. To develop a robust and adaptive control system of a UAV a good mathematical model based on aerodynamic analysis is required. This paper presents aerodynamic modeling and subsequently state-space model extraction of a high wing design UAV. The technique demonstrated in the paper serves as a procedure to investigate flight dynamic principles, model validation and basics for Autopilot implementation. A fairly accurate plant model is an important first step in Autopilot design and pilot training. The test benches used extract model´s key parameters are off-the-shelf custom build. Aerodynamic derivates are found out using DATCOM. Aerosim toolbox of Simulink is used to linearize and trim the model for a given set of inputs and state-space model is found out from the trimming results.