Modeling and Simulation of UAV Carrier Landings

TL;DR

This paper models and simulates UAV carrier landings, focusing on control performance and approach speeds, using realistic environmental and deck motion conditions to identify successful landing parameters.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive control architecture and simulation framework for UAV carrier landings, incorporating environmental uncertainties and deck motion effects.

Findings

Identifies limiting approach conditions for successful landings

Demonstrates control system robustness under environmental disturbances

Quantifies impact of deck motion on landing performance

Abstract

With UAVs promising capabilities to increase operation flexibility and reduce mission cost, we are exploiting the automated carrier-landing performance advancement that can be achieved by fixed-wing UAVs. To demonstrate such potentials, in this paper, we investigate two key metrics, namely, flight path control performance, and reduced approach speeds for UAVs based on the F/A-18 High Angle of Attack (HARV) model. The landing control architecture consists of an auto-throttle, a stability augmentation system, glideslope and approach track controllers. The performance of the control model is tested using Monte Carlo simulations under a range of environmental uncertainties including atmospheric turbulence consisting of wind shear, discrete and continuous wind gusts, and carrier airwakes. Realistic deck motion is considered where the standard deck motion time histories under the Systematic Characterization of the Naval Environment (SCONE) program released by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) are used. We numerically demonstrate the limiting approach conditions which allow for successful carrier landings and factors affecting it's performance.