Simulation of a Coaxial-Helicopter UAV's Flight Test Program Based on ADS-33E-PRF for Control System Performance Evaluation

Within this contribution the benefit of using simulation for the validation of Helicopter Flight Control and Guidance System (FCGS) Design for unmanned helicopters applying automatically initiated flight test maneuvers according to design standard ADS-33E-PRF is demonstrated. The Department of Flight Dynamics has several years of experience with modeling, simulation, FCGS design and autonomous mission planning for UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in context of an industry cooperation for an unmanned coaxial helicopter. Therefore, a model of an unmanned coaxial helicopter including rotor aerodynamics by blade element and vortex theory respectively, drive train and landing gear is available. A Control System based on the linearization of the helicopter model with Mission Control as state machine allows the definition of automatically conducted flight maneuvers. Due to the quantified performance figures for each maneuver/MTE (Mission Task Element), ADS-33E-PRF holds the potential to be used for UAV certification efforts despite the lack of pilots in these flight systems with focus on FCGS and overall performance.