PhD Project

Supervisor(s) / Dr MD White / DJ Walker /

Suitable for

(MPhil, MPhil/PhD, PhD) / PhD
Project Title /

System Identification of the Dynamics of theBell 412 Helicopter

Project Description

System identification is a procedure by which a mathematical description of the vehicle dynamic behaviour is extracted from flight test data. System identification makes use of measured aircraft motion and ‘inverts’ the responses to extract a model that reflects the measured aircraft motion. The identification of rotorcraft dynamic characteristics is particularly difficult because of the high level of measurement noise, generally unstable vehicle dynamics, high degree of inter-axis coupling, and the high order of the helicopter dynamical system. Some of the important benefits of rotorcraft system identification are related to the improved assessment and evaluation of flying qualities and to the development of high-band width flight control systems.
The aim of this project will be to use flight test data and system identification techniques to improve an exisiting model (Ref 1) of the Bell 412 helicopter. Preliminary work has been carried out using a time-domain identification algorithm (Ref 2) called “MMLE3”. However a new and more powerful frequency-domain tool called CIFER has recently been acquired. The project will investigate and compare time- and frequency domain approaches. The rotorcraft mathematical model (model structure parameters) needs to be determined from the relationship between the measured control inputs and the system responses. The identified models are to be compared with results from a FLIGHTLAB simulation model of the Bell 412 with a view to examining the fidelity of the model and carrying out upgrades to the simulation model to correct any deficiencies identified.The project will consider rotor and engine/drive-train dynamics. The indentified models will be flown on a full motion flight simulator to investigate the influence on model fidelity on the ability of a pilot to carry out a flying task.
References
1. Manimala, B.J., Walker, D.J. and Padfield, G.D. (2005) Rotorcraft modelling for controller design and loads prediction, Proc 31st European Rotorcraft Forum, Florence
2. Walker, D.J., Manimala, B.J., Voskuijl, M. and Gubbels, A.W. (2006). Multivariable control of the Bell 412 helicopter. Proc. IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, p 1527-1532, 2006.
Funding

Source

/
Submitted to University for DTA
/ Secured? (yes/no) / TBC
Funding details
Request for support by Departmental EPSRC funds? (yes/ no) / YES
Candidate: special qualities/background required (e.g. 1st degree must include fluids)
1st or 2.1 degree in engineering with genuine interest and ability in dynamics and control.
Submitted by / DJ Walker / Date / 30/03/09