Automatic take-off and landing control for small UAVs

This paper presents an overview of the design of a fully autonomous FCS (flight control system) developed for the small UAVs that are part of the BAE SYSTEMS UAV experimentation system (UES). The UES has been developed to provide flight demonstrations of key enabling technologies for future autonomous systems (Suttcliffe, J. H. and Sukarrieh, S., 2003). A complete FCS, GCS (ground control station), navigation system and HIL (hardware in loop) simulator were produced in a 7 month rapid development program to provide a system capable of flying small UAVs from 300 m unsealed runways under full autonomous control. A top level description of the FCS is provided together with simulation results for short field landings and take offs in the presence of crosswinds and gusts.