This project explores techniques to derive dynamics models and flight control laws directly from flight test data.
Using flight test data we can derive an approximate flight dynamics model. It is not perfect (no model is!) but it is useful for control law validation and demonstration.
We can derive a set of control laws directly from flight test data.
Often, the process of developing control laws involves building a dynamics model of the aircraft using flight test data. Then developing an outline of the desired control laws. Finally (using a variety of advanced techniques) the control laws can be tuned and validated against the dynamics model. Another approach is to just send your aircraft and tune the control law gains based on real in-flight behavior until the system "feels about right".
However, in this project I am exploring a technique to directly derive control laws from flight data.
This will sound like circular logic (and it is) ... but I prefer the word iterative. :-)
If I can derive a dynamics model from flight test data, and derive control laws from flight test data, then I can demonstrate the control laws flying the simulation model. That would (will!) be a major objective and mile stone when I reach that.
The real proof will be to install the derived control laws on the original aircraft and have them work flawlessly out of the box on the first flight.
I am driving towards a real world demonstration with a small (RC scale) type fixed wing flying model.
The approaches I explore here are not the typical path. There are significant advantages (potentially) but there are also significant limitations and downsides to be aware of depending on your use case and goals. It would be important to have some understanding of the boundaries before proceeding with anything here.
That said, my initial investigations (beginning in 2021) shows that all this stuff works, and can work pretty well. This is a DIY project and I am doing in my spare time whenever I get a rainy Saturday, so I don't have a specific time line. It is whatever I can do whenever I can do it.
Feel free to ask questions if you have any!