Abstract
A simulation environment is developed for an airplane controlled by internally moving masses (mass actuation), instead of conventional control surfaces (aeroactuation). The mass actuation consists of a mass moving within the fuselage generating a pitching moment and another moving along the wings generating rolling moments. Three main actuation configurations are studied: 1) aeroactuation uses three aerodynamic control surfaces, 2) mass–rudder actuation uses two internal moving mass and rudder, and 3) mass actuation uses only two moving masses. The dynamic simulation is based on equations of motion with varying mass-inertia properties. The simulation also includes servo dynamics for mass and aeroactuation, electric motor and propeller dynamics, propeller torque effect, and battery usage modeling. Multi-input/multi-output feedback controllers are developed for the three actuation mechanisms to track commanded speed, altitude, turn rate, and climb/descent rate. In simulation, each aircraft is flown through a mission profile including all phases of flight from hand launch to climb and cruise to loiter in steady turns at constant altitude to steady descent to landing. This simulation demonstrated the feasibility of the mass actuation in all flight phases as well as its benefit of reduction in required thrust in terms of battery power usage by electric motor spinning the propeller and servos actuating the moving mass and/or aero control surfaces.
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