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Multi-Axis Nose-Pointing-and-Shooting in a Biomimetic Morphing-Wing Aircraft

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Pons, A 

Abstract

Modern high-performance combat aircraft exceed conventional flight-envelope limits on maneuverability through the use of thrust vectoring, and so achieve supermaneuverability. With ongoing development of biomimetic unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the potential for supermaneuverability through biomimetic mechanisms becomes apparent. So far, this potential has not been well studied: biomimetic UAVs have not yet been shown to be capable of any forms of classical supermaneuverability, as are available to thrust-vectored aircraft. Here we show this capability, by demonstrating how biomimetic morphing-wing UAVs can perform sophisticated slow-timescale nose-pointing-and-shooting (NPAS). Nonlinear flight-dynamics analysis is used to characterize the extent and stability of the multidimensional space of aircraft trim states that arises from biomimetic morphing. Navigating this trim space provides an effective model-based guidance strategy for generating open-loop NPAS maneuvers in simulation. Our results demonstrate the capability of biomimetic aircraft for air combat-relevant supermaneuverability, and provide strategies for the exploration, characterization, and guidance of further forms of classical and nonclassical supermaneuverability in such aircraft.

Description

Keywords

40 Engineering, 4001 Aerospace Engineering

Journal Title

Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics: devoted to the technology of dynamics and control

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0731-5090
1533-3884

Volume Title

46

Publisher

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics