Rapid Prototyping and Evaluation of Control System Designs for Manned and Unmanned Applications

A new workstation-based pilot-in-the-loop real time simulation environment is presented. This environment is part of a set of tools aimed at helping control system engineers quickly develop robust designs. Block diagrams developed in SIMULINK can be rapidly integrated into the environment, coupled to a mathematical model of the target vehicle, and evaluated with a pilot in the loop. Parameters can be changed directly on the block diagram and the effects of the changes observed in the running simulation. The environment can also be utilized for math model development and for cockpit display research. The various components are described in detail, including means of communication and interaction between the components. An application is discussed for a Yamaha R-50 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle which includes the development of a component-type mathematical model and flight control laws for the vehicle.