Development of telemetry for the agility flight test of a radio controlled fighter model.

102 Pages·1.4 MB·en_US

by  Gallagher, Michael James.;Howard, Richard M.

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
Monterey California
,
THESIS
DEVELOPMENTOFTELEMETRY FOR
THE AGILrTY FLIGHTTEST OF
A RADIO CONTROLLED FIGHTER MODEL
by
Michael James Gallagher
March 1992
Thesis Advisor: Richard Howard
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
T260316

Unclassified
Security Classification of this page
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE
la Report Security Classification Unclassified 1 b Restrictive Markings
2a Security Classification Authority 3 Distribution Availability of Report
2b Declassification/Downgrading Schedule Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
4 Performing Organization Report Number(s Monitoring Organization Report Number(s
6a Name of Performing Organization 6b Office Symbol 7n Name of Monitoring Organization
AA
Naval Postgraduate School (If Applicable) Naval Postgraduate School
6c Address(city, state, and ZIP code) 7b Address(citv, state, and ZIP code)
Monterey, CA 93943-5000 Monterey, CA 93943-5000
8a Name of Funding/Sponsoring Organization 8b Office Symbol Procurement Instrument Identification Number
(// Applicable)
8c Address(city, state, and ZIP code) 10 Source of funding Numbers
Program FlemeniNumbe ProjectNo raskNt WorkUnitAccessionNo
DEVELOPMENT OF TELEMETRY FOR THE AGILITY FLIGHTTEST OF
11 Title (Include Security Classification)
ARADIO CONTROLLED FIGHTER MODEL
12 Personal Authors) Gallagher, Michael James
13a Type of Report 13b Time Covered 14 Dale of Report (year, month,day) 15 Page Count
Master's Thesis From To March "1992 90
16 Supplementary Notation The views expressed in this thesis arc those ofthe author and do not reflect the official
policy or position ofthe Department oi' Defense or the U.S. Government.
17 Cosati Codes 18 Subject Terms (continue on reverse if necessary and identify by block number)
Field Group Subgroup UAV, RPV. Telemetry. Supermaneuverability. Agility. Radio Control
High Angle of Attack.
19 Abstract (continue on reverse if necessary and identify by block number
Advanced design tools, control devices, and supermaneuverability concepts provide innovative solutions to
traditional aircraft design trade-offs. Emerging technologies enable improved agility throughout the performance
envelope. Unmanned Air Vehicles provide an excellent platform for dynamic measurements and agility research.
A 1/8-scaled F-J6A ducted-fan radio-controlled aircraft was instrumented with a telemetry system to acquire angle
ofattack, sideslip angle, control surface deflection, throttle position, and airspeed data. A portable ground station
was built to record and visually present real-time telemetry data. Flight tests will be conducted to acquire baseline
high angle-of-attack performance measurements, and follow-on research will evaluate agility imprcwements with
varied control configurations.
20 Distribution/Availabilitv of Abstract 21 Abstract Security Classification
unclassified/unlimited same as report l)TKusei> Unclassified
3D FORM 1473. 84 MAR 83 APR edition may be used until exhausted security classification of this page
All other editions are obsolete Unclassified
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Development ofTelemetry for the Agility Flight Test of
a Radio Controlled Fighter Model
by
Michael James,Gallagher
Lieutenant Commander. United States Navy
B.S.. Oregon State University. 1978
Submitted in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
from the
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
MARCH
1992
ABSTRACT
Advanced design tools, control devices, and supermaneuverability concepts
provide innovative solutions to traditional aircraft design trade-offs. Emerging
technologies enable improved agility throughout the performance envelope.
Unmanned Air Vehicles provide an excellent platform for dynamic measurements
and agility research. A 1/8-scaled F-16A ducted-fan radio-controlled aircraft was
instrumented with a telemetry system to acquire angle of attack, sideslip angle,
A
control surface deflection, throttle position, and airspeed data. portable ground
station was built to record and visually present real-time telemetry data. Flight
tests will be conducted to acquire baseline high angle-of-attack performance
measurements, and follow-on research will evaluate agility improvements with
varied control configurations.
in
6-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. 1
A. DIGITAL FLY-BY-WIRE CONTROL 5
B. DELTA WING/CLOSE-COUPLED CANARD DESIGN 6
C. SUPERMANEUVERABILITY CONCEPTS 6
D. USE OF RPVS IN AGILITY RESEARCH 11
SCOPE
II. 12
A. UAV FLIGHT RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 12
REQUIREMENTS FOR A TELEMETRY SYSTEM
B. 13
C. FINDING A SUITABLE TELEMETRY DESIGN 14
TELEMETRY DEVELOPMENT
III. 16
AIRBORNE TELEMETRY SYSTEM
A. 16
1. Encoder 17
2. Measurement of Alpha and Beta Deflections 18
3. Measurement of Control Surface Deflections and Throttle
Position 21
4. Airspeed Measurement 21
5. Transmitter 24
6. Airborne Telemetry Package 24
B. GROUND-BASED TELEMETRY SYSTEM 24
1. Signal Decoding 25
2. Ground Station Design 26
IV. FLIGHT TEST VEHICLE 28
A. MODEL DESCRIPTION 28
WEIGHT AND BALANCE
B. 29
1. Determining CG Location 30
a. TABLE 1: CG Location / Reference Distances 30
IV