Loitering munitions are increasingly used in armed conflicts.An extensive database of loitering munitions is developed based on information available in the public domain.This database includes dimensions,weights,and ...Loitering munitions are increasingly used in armed conflicts.An extensive database of loitering munitions is developed based on information available in the public domain.This database includes dimensions,weights,and performance parameters such as flight endurance and communication range.Based upon this dataset,6 categories of loitering munitions are identified and statistical trends in the form of equations are provided for each category.The statistical trends are supported by aircraft performance theory tailored to loitering munitions applications.Altogether,the combination of the database,statistical trends and aircraft performance theory can be used to analyse the flight performance and design considerations of new loitering munitions of which only limited non-technical information is available in the public domain such as pictures and news articles.Based on the statistical trends and aircraft performance theory it is concluded that for long range applications,the preferred design solution is the conventional configuration.The cruciform configuration is beneficial in case precision flight path control is of prime importance.The tandem wing configuration combines the benefits of a canister launch and relatively high aspect ratio wings suitable for long range flight.Finally,the delta wing design provides a large internal volume and a high terminal attack airspeed.Two example case studies are included to illustrate the flight performance capabilities of two types of loitering munitions used in the current conflict in Yemen(a long range conventional design and a delta wing configuration).展开更多
An investigation into the aircraft flight simulation and control system is presented in this paper. The study was firstly focused on the establishment of an integrated hardware-in-the-loop(HITL) platform for aircraft ...An investigation into the aircraft flight simulation and control system is presented in this paper. The study was firstly focused on the establishment of an integrated hardware-in-the-loop(HITL) platform for aircraft flight simulation based on MATLAB/Simulink+dSPACE. The platform combines the abundant software and hardware resources of dSPACE simulation platform to simulate the flight attitude of an aircraft in six-DOF (degree of freedom) motion. Based on the platform,the study was then focused on the flight numerical simulation by taking a loitering aerial vehicle as an example. An aircraft mathematical model was created for a modular design and off-line numerical simulation based on MATLAB/Simulink. Finally,the study was focused on the control system design of the loitering aerial vehicle and conduct of an HITL simulation experiment for the vehicle pitch control. The experiment verifies the system design and control effectiveness. Research results show that the dSPACE simulation system provides a real time good experimental platform to improve the efficiency of study and development of a flight control system.展开更多
The ability to hit a target with precision and from a great distance has been reserved for the world’s superpowers. However, this resource is increasingly being threatened as drones with this long-range and precision...The ability to hit a target with precision and from a great distance has been reserved for the world’s superpowers. However, this resource is increasingly being threatened as drones with this long-range and precision capability are becoming more accessible to those who don’t have this strategic ability. This article starts with an analysis of the Iranian HESA Shahed 136 drone to discuss the latest innovations in low-cost long-range precision weapons, specifically the use of kamikaze drones and loitering munitions. This is an exploratory study that starts by discussing the notion of a kamikaze drone and then analyses the design options for the Shahed 136, to reflect on the future of this new type of weapon and its implications for the economic and political relationship between weapon and cost. The conclusion is that the HESA Shahed 136 revolutionizes the concept of precise long-range strikes, a function that until now was reserved for expensive and technologically demanding tactical missiles and aircraft, and which can now be carried out with cheap drones. This creates an arms race not only in producing the most technological and precise weaponry but also the least expensive.展开更多
A current statistical model for maneuvering acceleration using an adaptive extended Kalman filter(CS-MAEKF) algorithm is proposed to solve problems existing in conventional extended Kalman filters such as large estima...A current statistical model for maneuvering acceleration using an adaptive extended Kalman filter(CS-MAEKF) algorithm is proposed to solve problems existing in conventional extended Kalman filters such as large estimation error and divergent tendencies in the presence of continuous maneuvering acceleration. A membership function is introduced in this algorithm to adaptively modify the upper and lower limits of loitering vehicles' maneuvering acceleration and for realtime adjustment of maneuvering acceleration variance. This allows the algorithm to have superior static and dynamic performance for loitering vehicles undergoing different maneuvers. Digital simulations and dynamic flight testing show that the yaw angle accuracy of the algorithm is 30% better than conventional algorithms, and pitch and roll angle calculation precision is improved by 60%.The mean square deviation of heading and attitude angle error during dynamic flight is less than3.05°. Experimental results show that CS-MAEKF meets the application requirements of miniature loitering vehicles.展开更多
文摘Loitering munitions are increasingly used in armed conflicts.An extensive database of loitering munitions is developed based on information available in the public domain.This database includes dimensions,weights,and performance parameters such as flight endurance and communication range.Based upon this dataset,6 categories of loitering munitions are identified and statistical trends in the form of equations are provided for each category.The statistical trends are supported by aircraft performance theory tailored to loitering munitions applications.Altogether,the combination of the database,statistical trends and aircraft performance theory can be used to analyse the flight performance and design considerations of new loitering munitions of which only limited non-technical information is available in the public domain such as pictures and news articles.Based on the statistical trends and aircraft performance theory it is concluded that for long range applications,the preferred design solution is the conventional configuration.The cruciform configuration is beneficial in case precision flight path control is of prime importance.The tandem wing configuration combines the benefits of a canister launch and relatively high aspect ratio wings suitable for long range flight.Finally,the delta wing design provides a large internal volume and a high terminal attack airspeed.Two example case studies are included to illustrate the flight performance capabilities of two types of loitering munitions used in the current conflict in Yemen(a long range conventional design and a delta wing configuration).
基金Sponsored by the Ministerial Level Advanced Research Foundation(A26020060253)
文摘An investigation into the aircraft flight simulation and control system is presented in this paper. The study was firstly focused on the establishment of an integrated hardware-in-the-loop(HITL) platform for aircraft flight simulation based on MATLAB/Simulink+dSPACE. The platform combines the abundant software and hardware resources of dSPACE simulation platform to simulate the flight attitude of an aircraft in six-DOF (degree of freedom) motion. Based on the platform,the study was then focused on the flight numerical simulation by taking a loitering aerial vehicle as an example. An aircraft mathematical model was created for a modular design and off-line numerical simulation based on MATLAB/Simulink. Finally,the study was focused on the control system design of the loitering aerial vehicle and conduct of an HITL simulation experiment for the vehicle pitch control. The experiment verifies the system design and control effectiveness. Research results show that the dSPACE simulation system provides a real time good experimental platform to improve the efficiency of study and development of a flight control system.
文摘The ability to hit a target with precision and from a great distance has been reserved for the world’s superpowers. However, this resource is increasingly being threatened as drones with this long-range and precision capability are becoming more accessible to those who don’t have this strategic ability. This article starts with an analysis of the Iranian HESA Shahed 136 drone to discuss the latest innovations in low-cost long-range precision weapons, specifically the use of kamikaze drones and loitering munitions. This is an exploratory study that starts by discussing the notion of a kamikaze drone and then analyses the design options for the Shahed 136, to reflect on the future of this new type of weapon and its implications for the economic and political relationship between weapon and cost. The conclusion is that the HESA Shahed 136 revolutionizes the concept of precise long-range strikes, a function that until now was reserved for expensive and technologically demanding tactical missiles and aircraft, and which can now be carried out with cheap drones. This creates an arms race not only in producing the most technological and precise weaponry but also the least expensive.
文摘A current statistical model for maneuvering acceleration using an adaptive extended Kalman filter(CS-MAEKF) algorithm is proposed to solve problems existing in conventional extended Kalman filters such as large estimation error and divergent tendencies in the presence of continuous maneuvering acceleration. A membership function is introduced in this algorithm to adaptively modify the upper and lower limits of loitering vehicles' maneuvering acceleration and for realtime adjustment of maneuvering acceleration variance. This allows the algorithm to have superior static and dynamic performance for loitering vehicles undergoing different maneuvers. Digital simulations and dynamic flight testing show that the yaw angle accuracy of the algorithm is 30% better than conventional algorithms, and pitch and roll angle calculation precision is improved by 60%.The mean square deviation of heading and attitude angle error during dynamic flight is less than3.05°. Experimental results show that CS-MAEKF meets the application requirements of miniature loitering vehicles.
