Research Projects
Research is performed at the intersection of dynamic modeling, control system engineering, and design. Focus is on inventing, understanding, and improving aeronautical devices that are highly dynamic and often actively controlled during operation. In a broad context, the group has concentrated on four fundamental areas of inquiry.
- Understanding the Dynamic Behavior of Aeronautical Devices
- Development of Unique Control Mechanisms for Aeronautical Devices
- Design of Innovative Sensor Systems
- Specialization and Optimization of Control Methods to Particular Devices.
Application areas include flight mechanics and control of smart weapons, micro air vehicles, and rotorcraft.
Smart Weapons
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Army, U.S. Industry
Research in this area is focused on dynamically modeling exterior ballistics of smart munitions to support development of economically viable weapon systems. Interests include: Dynamic Characteristics of Multi-Component Weapon System Configurations (Dual-Spin Projectiles, Gimbaled-Nose Projectiles, Tethered Projectiles, Internal Moving Mass Projectiles, Etc); Authority of New Projectile Control Mechanisms (Ram Air Projectile Control, Internal Moving Mass Projectile Control, Lateral Pulse Jet Control, Etc), Design of Projectile Flight Control Systems (Model Predictive Control, Model Inversion Control, Variable Structure Control, Lateral Pulse Jet Control, Etc), and Development of Unique Sensor Systems for Smart Bullets (MEMS sensor arrays, Production Line Calibration of Projectile Sensor Systems, Sensor Suite Initialization, Etc).
Schematic of Batch Calibration of Projectile Sensor Suites
Motion Capture Test System for Projectile Sensor Suite Calibration
Micro Air Vehicles
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, DARPA
Small unmanned aircraft offer terrific system design options for uses such as real-time monitoring over large land areas, autonomous delivery of small packages, etc. With the use of MEMS technology combined with miniature computing technology, it is possible to create relatively low cost devices. Research in this area has focuses on dynamic characteristics, control response, and flight control system design of low speed, long endurance, and gust tolerance micro air vehicles. Configurations of particular interest include: Fixed Wing Aircraft, Articulated Fixed Wing Aircraft, Parafoil and Payload Aircraft, Rotorcraft, and Unconventional Aircraft.
Parafoil and Payload Aircraft Flight Testing in Oregon - Model Predictive Control
Parafoil and Payload Aircraft Flight Testing in New Mexico - Precision Air Drop
Rotorcraft
Sponsoring Agency: U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, DARPA
Research in this area includes: Dynamically Modeling of Unique Rotorcraft Configurations (Projectile Kinetic Energy Reduction Device, Etc), New Flight Control System Features (Coaxial Rotor Compound Helicopter Propeller Engage/Disengage, Model Predictive Control for Micro Rotorcraft, Etc), and Sensor Systems (In-flight Weight, Mass Center Estimation, Etc).
Rotochute
Sikorsky Aircraft X2 Coaxial Compound Helicopter