Simulink-Based Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation System for UAV Flight Control System

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jbdc.202501218

Author(s)

Shasha Wang1, Helong Wu2,*

Affiliation(s)

1School of Information Technology & Engineering, Guangzhou College of Commerce, Guangzhou, China 2China Electronic Product Reliability and Environment Testing Research Institute Guangzhou, China * Corresponding Author

Abstract

In the development of flight control systems, hardware-in-the-loop simulation（HIL）simulation is essential for algorithm verification and system validation. By thoroughly and effectively validating flight control algorithms during the ground phase, potential software and hardware issues can be resolved early, significantly reducing losses incurred during actual flight tests. In the event of a crash during real-world flight testing, not only could it cause substantial harm to human life and property, but it would also drastically increase aircraft debugging costs. Currently, HIL are becoming increasingly vital in the development of low-cost, consumer-grade UAV flight control systems, as they greatly enhance development efficiency and debugging safety. This paper proposes a Simulink-based method for constructing an HIL simulation system for UAV flight control. First, the UAV dynamic model is established in the Simulink environment, including the power unit model, control effectiveness model, rigid-body dynamics model, and rigid-body kinematics model. Subsequently, virtual sensor models - such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, and barometers—are developed. Serial communication protocols are employed to facilitate real-time data exchange between the flight control system and the UAV dynamic model, forming a closed-loop HIL simulation. Finally, HIL simulation tests are conducted to evaluate the flight performance of the flight control system. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed HIL simulation system effectively validates flight control performance, providing robust support for flight control development and testing.

Keywords

UAV Body Model; Flight Control; HIL; Virtual Sensor.

References

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