Computational fluid dynamics model of a quad-rotor helicopter for dynamic analysis

The control and performance of a quad-rotor helicopter UAV is greatly influenced by its aerodynamics, which in turn is affected by the interactions with features in its remote environment. This paper presents details of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation and analysis of a quadrotor helicopter. It starts by presenting how SolidWorks software is used to develop a 3-D Computer Aided Design (CAD) model of the quad-rotor helicopter, then describes how CFD is used as a computer based mathematical modelling tool to simulate and analyze the effects of wind flow patterns on the performance and control of the quadrotor helicopter. For the purpose of developing a robust adaptive controller for the quad-rotor helicopter to withstand any environmental constraints, which is not within the scope of this paper; this work accurately models the quad-rotor static and dynamic characteristics from a limited number of time-accurate CFD simulations

Modelling and simulation of a quad-rotor helicopter

Small size quad-rotor helicopters are often used due to the simplicity of their construction and maintenance, their ability to hover and also to take-off and land vertically. The first step in control development is an adequate dynamic system modelling, which should involve a faithful mathematical representation of the mechanical system. This paper presents a detailed dynamic analytical model of the quad-rotor helicopter using the linear Taylor series approximation method. The developed analytical model was simulated in the MatLab/Simulink environment and the dynamic behaviour of the quad-rotor assessed due to voltage changes. The model is further calibrated and linearized for use on any quad-rotor helicopter

A practical project approach for teaching experimental power electronics

NAThis paper presents a design project, dc to dc converter, for a solar model car to provide hands-on engineering experience and real life educational design project. This paper focuses on the design, modelling, analysis and simulation of a dc/dc converter for a solar model car. A buck converter is designed and built to convert the output from a solar panel to a voltage level suitable for the electric motors that drive the model car. The effectiveness of the developed model is verified through simulation and corroborated using experimental results.N

Control Strategies of a Gas Turbine Generator: A Comparative Study

Gas turbine generators are commonly used in oil and gas industries due to their robustness and association with other operating systems in the combined cycles.  The electrical generators may become unstable under severe load fluctuations. For these raisons, maintaining the stability is paramount to ensure continuous functioninality.This paper deals with the modeling and simulation of a single shaft gas turbine generator using the model developed by Rowen and incorporating different types of controllers, viz a Zeigler- Nichols PID controller, a Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC), FLC-PID and finally a hybridPID/FLC/FLC-PIDcontroller. The study was undertaken under Matlab / Simulink environment with data related to an in service power plant owned by Sonatrach, Algiers, Algeria. The results show that FLC-PID and hybrid tuned controllers provide the best time domain performances

Design of Self-tuning PID Controller Parameters Using Fuzzy Logic Controller for Quad-rotor Helicopter

This paper presents the design of a Fuzzy PID controller (FPID) based on fuzzy logic with a PID structure with many valued logic and reasoning. The self-turning Fuzzy PID control take in an error and the rate of change of error of the altitude and attitude of the quadrotor as the input to the fuzzy controller and use the fuzzy rules to adjust the PID parameter automatically. Simulations have been conducted to observe the differences in controlling the quadrotor in flight using the new FPID controller instead of using PID controller. The effectiveness of the developed FPID is verified using the dSPACE platform whereby the Simulink model of the controller is converted to a real time system to generate the control signals for the control of quad rotor helicopter

A hardware implementation of 6dof quadcopter matlab/simulink controller algorithm to an autopilot

This paper presents a hardware implementation of Control algorithm for 6DOF Quadcopter developed on MATLAB/SIMULINK to an autopilot Microcontroller (PIXHAWK) using MATLAB/SIMULINK Embedded Coder. After the validation of the SIMULINK model controller results through the software simulation, the designed controller is converted into C\C++ and uploaded into the Pixhawk autopilot by creating SIMULINK application in the autopilot firmware. This paper presents a rapid and real test solution for quadcopter control system using Pixhawk autopilot which will provide further real adjustment for the control parameters. This feature is used in this research is to deploy the SIMULINK codes into the Pixhawk autopilot board through the Embedded Coder Tool.N/

Load Dump Analysis in a 42/14V DC-DC Converter for Automotive Application

The paper presents a model for a dc-dc centralised based architecture using Matlab/Simulink for load dump analysis. As the electrical load varies for various driving conditions such as day or night, summer or winter; and city or country side, the analysis of load change is a very important parameter for system behaviour. In order to study the 42V power generation dynamic performance under load variations, step change in loads have been investigated. A detailed mathematical model for a 3-phase, 4 kW and 42V Lundell alternator average electrical equivalent circuit along with the DC/DC converter based architectures for dual-voltage systems has been covered in previous publications. Aspects of the steady-state output current capabilities, transient behaviour due to load dump on the 14/42V buses and the behaviour of the system model under different loads are assessed and results discussed. The performance of the 42V Lundell alternator with the interleaved six-phase buck dc-to-dc converter system is modelled using Simulink software to assess the effectiveness of the model and its transient behaviour. The simulated results are presented for the transient characteristics of the system for load dumps

An investigation into the thermal modelling of induction motors.

Electric motors are the ubiquitous workhorses of the industry, working a in wide range of conditions and applications. Modern motors, designed to exact ratings using new materials improved manufacturing techniques, are now much smaller but have higher loadings. They are being operated much nearer to the point of overload then ever before. To ensure a satisfactory life span for the motor, temperature rise must be limited to safe values. A lumped parameter thermal model has been developed, which allows rapid and accurate estimation of the temperature distribution in a machine. The lumped parameter thermal model depends on the accurate knowledge of the thermal coefficients and more importantly the loss distribution. Hence the temperature time technique was implemented to investigate the iron loss density distribution. Experimental results are discussed and loss density information throughout the volume of the machine was generated. A novel method of determining the thermal coefficients employed in the heat flow equation was investigated, using the thermal lumped parameter model of a machine. Finally a 2-D finite element method was used to corroborate, or otherwise, the use of the lumped thermal network model

A Wireless communication system for a quadrotor helicopter

The aim of this paper is to present real-time wireless communication between an AVR microcontroller and a quadcopter model built in Simulink representing a ground station. The wireless communication is achieved by using a pair of HC-05 Bluetooth modules. The wireless communication is performed on various controllers designed on Matlab/Simulink.N/