Dynamic flight modeling of a multi-mode flying wing quadrotor aircraft

Abstract

As the demand for versatile and efficient aerial vehicles increases, the limits of current aerial vehicles become more apparent. There is a necessity for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which can execute tasks that no manned aircraft has the ability to perform. This paper focuses on vertical take off and landing (VTOL) hybrids, a category of UAVs that encompasses features from both VTOL rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft. While there is a multitude of unique UAVs that can perform specific tasks, an effective autonomous UAV is one that retains the versatility of VTOL and the efficiency of a winged aircraft. The research presented demonstrates the navigation, guidance, and transition modeling of a VTOL hybrid. The research presented focuses heavily on the future of navigation models concerning this vehicle, where the full potential of a VTOL hybrid will be most useful in real world situations. The models developed are low fidelity to focus on the development of a navigation algorithm.