Real-time aero model identification

National Research Council Canada describes its long-term program to speed up data analysis during aircraft flight testing.

Aircraft simulator manufacturers require calibrated engineering data immediately following the completion of a flight test. A research program conducted by the National Research Council (NRC) Canada has addressed some challenges of in-flight near real-time aerodynamic model identification (RAMI). These challenges include developing an efficient computing algorithm for in-flight aircraft model identification; integrating aircraft model identification software into a high-speed, onboard, personal computer (PC); implementing an onboard, global model development routine; and developing the capability to confirm the global model in flight.

The in-flight parameter estimation procedure uses a modified maximum likelihood estimator (MMLE) as the core of the optimization algorithm. This technique has matured to a state-of-the-art industry standard.