The aim of this research is to develop realistic models of aerodynamic cross-couplinge ects that can be incorporated in real-time or near real-time simulations of UnmannedAerial Vehicles (UAVs) in close formation flight. These would permit the assessment ofthe risks and issues associated with wake vortex evolution and encounter and the analysisof their consequences on the design of automatic control systems and the developmentof safe and reliable operating procedures. A number of wake vortex modellingtechniques that can be used in formation flight simulations are reviewed. A novel WakeVortex Model (WVM) is developed, implemented, verified, validated and successfullyintegrated within a Matlab/Simulink simulation environment. The code, named ELLbecause it is based on Weissinger’s extended lifting line theory, meets the followingrequirements: (i) it is generic and can easily be adapted to accomodate any wing planformand air vehicle configuration; (ii) it is computationally rapid enough to be used inreal-time or near real-time simulations; (iii) and it is sufficiently representative to supportstudies of aerodynamic interaction between multiple air vehicles during formationreconfiguration and air-to-air refuelling simulations. Simulink test scenarios of twoAerosonde UAVs are developed to test and validate the use of ELL within simulationmodels, and the simulation environment is interfaced with visualisation tools in orderto facilitate the evaluation of multiple air vehicle dynamic interaction.
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