This paper presents a control architecture designed to accommodate a selection of modern control algorithms on a full-scale rotary-wing, unmanned aerial vehicle. The architecture integrates a visual landing system, two path planners, a flight envelope protection algorithm, and two low-level flight controllers that were developed independently by six agencies in academia and industry. A newly de...

This paper addresses the NOE path planning with incomplete information. We first define the path planning for NOE flight. Then we discuss how to divide the problem into several subproblems. For each of the subproblems, we propose a clear definition along with a brief description of the solutions to the subproblem.

– A flight path rate demand modified two-loop lateral missile autopilot design methodology for a class of rear controlled guided missile, based on state feedback, output feedback, reduced order Das & Ghosal observer (DGO) and PI controller is proposed. The open loop undamped model of two-loop autopilot has been stabilized by using pole placement and state feedback. The non-minimum phase feature...

Barn owls localize a stationary auditory target with high accuracy. They might also be able to hit a target that is intermittently moving while the owl is approaching. If so, there should be a critical delay before strike initiation, up to which the owl can adapt its flight path to a new stimulus position. In this study, this critical stimulus delay was determined in a three-dimensional free-fl...

This paper describes updated results from a partnership between the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and the Georgia Institute of Technology to develop, improve, and flight test a sensor, guidance, navigation, control, and real-time flight path optimization system to support high performance Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) helicopter flight. The emphasis here is on optimization for a combination of low hei...

This study investigates the aerodynamics of the falcon Falco peregrinus while diving. During a dive peregrines can reach velocities of more than 320 km h⁻¹. Unfortunately, in freely roaming falcons, these high velocities prohibit a precise determination of flight parameters such as velocity and acceleration as well as body shape and wing contour. Therefore, individual F. peregrinus were trained...

Batesian mimics that show similar coloration to unpalatable models gain a fitness advantage of reduced predation. Beyond physical similarity, mimics often exhibit behaviour similar to their models, further enhancing their protection against predation by mimicking not only the model's physical appearance but also activity. In butterflies, there is a strong correlation between palatability and fl...

BACKGROUND GPS analysis of flight trajectories of pigeons can reveal that topographic features influence their flight paths. Recording electrical brain activity that reflects attentional processing could indicate objects of interest that do not cause changes in the flight path. Therefore, we investigated whether crossing particular visual landmarks when homing from a familiar release site is as...

This paper considers the problem of calculating flight time for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) while incorporating flight dynamics in an operational field that contains obstacles. These flight time calculations can be used as parameter inputs in mission planning and dynamic reassignment problems. A network generation procedure is developed and pseudonodes are added into the network to include ...