Advanced Real-time Aerodynamic Model Identification Technique 2001-01-2965

The Flight Research Laboratory (FRL), National Research Council (NRC) of Canada is currently developing an in-flight aircraft aerodynamic model identification technique that determines the small perturbation model at a given test condition. Initial demonstrations have been carried out using the NRC Falcon 20 research aircraft. An efficient system architecture, in terms of both software algorithms and hardware processing, has been designed to meet the stringent near real-time requirements of an in-flight system. As well, novel hardware and software techniques are being applied to the calibration and measurement of the fundamental in-flight parameters, such as air data. The small perturbation models are then combined to develop a global model of the aircraft that is validated by comparing the model response to flight data. The maneuvers were performed according to the FAA Acceptance Test Guide (ATG). In-flight model development and validation is an innovative application of parameter estimation. Flight testing of the parameter estimation system resulted in a model that matches the Falcon 20 aircraft very well. The longitudinal and lateral derivatives were computed within 2 and 8 seconds, respectively, of completion of the flight test maneuver.