Interactive Graphical User Interface for Performance and Flight Dynamics Analysis of Battery Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The objective of this article is to develop a tool that integrates performance and flight dynamics analysis and presents its significant findings through an interactive graphical user interface. The software is developed using MATLAB to allow for further development of subsequent iterations and efficient integration with readily available modules and toolboxes that are either in-house developed or publicly available as open-source modules. The aim is to demonstrate the correlation between the parameters of aircraft design and their influence on the flight mechanics of the design, a phenomenon that can frequently prove challenging to explain and perceive. The software facilitates the assessment of design performance and dynamics for both experienced and novice designers. Additionally, it allows educators to proficiently convey information pertaining to aircraft design and principles of flight dynamics. The tool will assess the performance parameters of an aircraft, including cruise, climb, takeoff, and landing, as well as estimate mission objectives such as range and endurance, based on determined design variables and expected flight conditions. The tool can also ascertain the aircraft's corresponding stability and control derivatives. Subsequently, the aforementioned data is transmitted to the module responsible for flight dynamics analysis, which will subsequently enable an evaluation of the longitudinal and lateral directional stability and control of the aircraft. The software incorporates a flight simulator feature, enabling users to assess the handling qualities of their design. By presenting the outcomes of these analyses in a comprehensible manner, users can perform interactive parameter tuning and promptly evaluate their design choices. Furthermore, they can effortlessly communicate their work to a wider audience who may lack familiarity with the subject matter.