HW in-the-Loop Simulation of a Light Aircraft Autopilot

HW in-the-Loop Simulation of a Light Aircraft Autopilot

Paper in proceedings (conference paper)

Hardware in the loop simulations are undisputablyperceived as an integral part of the avionics design and development process. Thispaper describes the simulation process which has been employed to test a digitalautopilot for a light sport aircraft. Simulation processes have been performedon two different ground testing levels. The first setting consisted of alaboratory grade verification phase which supported the initial functionalestimate of the designed and implemented autopilot features. The subsequenttesting level already included the embedded autopilot system installation onboard of the test aircraft. The initial hardware in the loop simulation wasperformed at the light aircraft simulation lab SimStar at the Brno Universityof Technology. The aim of the ground simulations was to verify and ground testthe operational suitability of the designed autopilot flight control systemelements. The implemented flight control system hardware units have been connectedinto the simulation network using the CANaerospace communication protocol forboth testing scenarios. Simulations focused on the real time automatic flightmodes operational scenarios. Both of the simulation scenarios confirmed theanticipated performance of the autopilot design features.

Hardware in the loop simulations are undisputablyperceived as an integral part of the avionics design and development process. Thispaper describes the simulation process which has been employed to test a digitalautopilot for a light sport aircraft. Simulation processes have been performedon two different ground testing levels. The first setting consisted of alaboratory grade verification phase which supported the initial functionalestimate of the designed and implemented autopilot features. The subsequenttesting level already included the embedded autopilot system installation onboard of the test aircraft. The initial hardware in the loop simulation wasperformed at the light aircraft simulation lab SimStar at the Brno Universityof Technology. The aim of the ground simulations was to verify and ground testthe operational suitability of the designed autopilot flight control systemelements. The implemented flight control system hardware units have been connectedinto the simulation network using the CANaerospace communication protocol forboth testing scenarios. Simulations focused on the real time automatic flightmodes operational scenarios. Both of the simulation scenarios confirmed theanticipated performance of the autopilot design features.

HIL simulations, light aircraft, embedded systems, ground testing, simulation framework, computer simulation

HIL simulations, light aircraft, embedded systems, ground testing, simulation framework, computer simulation

CHUDÝ, P.; VLK, J.; DITTRICH, P.; RZUCIDŁO, P.

2017

19.08.2013

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Boston, MA

978-1-62993-153-1

Conference Proceeding Series (GNC/AFM/MST)

1

11

11

http://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2013-4829?prevSearch=&searchHistoryKey=