An Integrated, Modular Simulation System for Education ... - Cal Poly

ConclusionsConverting existing software code to Simulink S-functions has provided aflexible, powerful, easy to use, modular simulation laboratory for the Cal Poly controlsgroup. A basic capability has been provided upon which to build a completecomputational flight modeling laboratory.Using systematic testing of the software, a procedure was established to createand verify future simulations using Simulink, RTW and CIFER. Taking existingsimulation code and creating Simulink blocks provides the fastest way to createsimulations. Creating Simulink driver blocks for the hardware-in-the-loop inceptor andinstrument systems for Cal Poly’s fixed base simulator allows rapid creation of basicmodels, or rapid set up of complex configurations. Once the basic model functionscorrectly, various configurations can be rapidly created by substituting more complexinput/output blocks and more complex feedback architectures as well as creating morecomplete instrument setups from the basic model. The engineer creates the blockdiagrams in Simulink representing the FBW flight control system and bare-airframemodel, then adds the stick and instrument blocks. RTW auto-codes and compiles the C-code representing the block diagrams. The compiled auto-code is ready for immediatepilot-in-the-loop and or hardware in the loop simulation. This system enables rapiddesign, analysis, and testing of aircraft and components for various levels of engineeringstudents. Innovative and new aircraft can be rapidly loaded and flown in a variety ofconfigurations. High level accurate models of fly by wire flight control systems can becreated and tested on a desktop.82