Multiaxis nose-pointing-and-shooting in a biomimetic morphing-wing aircraft

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that biomimetic morphing-wing UAVs can perform complex supermaneuverability maneuvers similar to thrust-vectored aircraft, using nonlinear dynamic analysis and model-based guidance strategies.

Contribution

It introduces the first demonstration of multiaxis nose-pointing-and-shooting maneuvers in biomimetic UAVs, expanding the understanding of their maneuvering capabilities.

Findings

Biomimetic UAVs can perform supermaneuverability maneuvers.

Nonlinear analysis characterizes stable trim states.

Model-based guidance enables open-loop maneuver execution.

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 of the forms of classical supermaneuverability available to thrust-vectored aircraft. Here we show this capability, by demonstrating how biomimetic morphing-wing UAVs can perform sophisticated multiaxis nose-pointing-and-shooting (NPAS) maneuvers at low morphing complexity. Nonlinear flight-dynamic 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 non-classical supermaneuverability in such aircraft.