Physics-informed Gaussian Processes for Safe Envelope Expansion

TL;DR

This paper introduces a physics-informed Gaussian process framework that accurately estimates aerodynamic parameters from arbitrary flight data, reducing the need for extensive testing and improving predictive capabilities.

Contribution

It integrates physics-based priors into Gaussian processes for flight test analysis, enabling precise aerodynamic estimation without predefined test points.

Findings

Accurately estimates pitching moment coefficient from arbitrary flight data.

Captures dynamic characteristics like short-period mode behavior.

Predicts short period frequency and damping across Mach and pressure profiles.

Abstract

Flight test analysis often requires predefined test points with arbitrarily tight tolerances, leading to extensive and resource-intensive experimental campaigns. To address this challenge, we propose a novel approach to flight test analysis using Gaussian processes (GPs) with physics-informed mean functions to estimate aerodynamic quantities from arbitrary flight test data, validated using real T-38 aircraft data collected in collaboration with the United States Air Force Test Pilot School. We demonstrate our method by estimating the pitching moment coefficient without requiring predefined or repeated flight test points, significantly reducing the need for extensive experimental campaigns. Our approach incorporates aerodynamic models as priors within the GP framework, enhancing predictive accuracy across diverse flight conditions and providing robust uncertainty quantification. Key contributions include the integration of physics-based priors in a probabilistic model, which allows for precise computation from arbitrary flight test maneuvers, and the demonstration of our method capturing relevant dynamic characteristics such as short-period mode behavior. The proposed framework offers a scalable and generalizable solution for efficient data-driven flight test analysis and is able to accurately predict the short period frequency and damping for the T-38 across several Mach and dynamic pressure profiles.