RT-LAB UAV Simulator

Consisting of a UAV Block Library, the DINAMO software, the RT-LAB real-time software and optional HLA Interface tools, the RT-LAB UAV Engineering Simulator takes your UAV concepts from inspiration to real-time distributed simulation, smoothly and painlessly.

• Minimize time and cost between concept and operational evaluation
• Specialized Blocksets provide comprehensive model-building tools
• Extensive I/O support for Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing
• Scalable, distributed computation with PC-based technologies
• Rapid UAV prototyping through "virtual" field testing
• HLA compliant for cooperative simulations

RT-LAB UAV Engineering Simulator is configured to resemble a standard UAV operator station. It may be deployed as a stand-alone simulator, connected to hardware in the loop, and/or connected to HLA federates. Employed as a stand-alone real-time simulator, it is ideal for research in control laws, collaborative strategies, man-machine interfaces and system integration. Employed as HLA objects, more advanced issues may be studied, such as, deployment strategies, field effectiveness and operational doctrines.

All hardware is PC-based and clustered by FireWire to permit maximum flexibility in scaling for selected performance. Add PCs as the UAV model complexity grows, or the mission requires multiple UAVs. Dynamically connect and disconnect UAVs from the simulation to reflect real deployment. Communicate to an HLA federate as one object or several and include HIL through standard PC I/O, the choice is yours. The computing power is no longer the limit.

RT-LAB UAV Engineering Simulators make it possible to integrate complex models, real components and ideas into real-time simulations, even cooperative simulations. They provide the perfect tools for the UAV researcher who wants to go from concept to reality with minimum time and effort.

I/O Options for Hardware in the Loop

• RT-LAB supports most off-the-shelf Analog and Digital I/O interface boards from: National Instruments, Acromag, RTD, Sensoray, Quanser
• MIL 1553 Interface: SBS Technologies
• MIL 429 Interface: SBS Technologies
• LVDT/RVDT Emulators: Opal-RT Technologies

Man-Machine Interface Options

• Inceptors: USB Joystick
• Visuals: X-Plane, VAPS, Altia, MultiGen-Paradigm
• API Tools: C, VB, FORTRAN, Simulink, Python, LabView
• Test Automation: TestStand, DINAMO

Opal-RTs UAV Engineering Simulator is an integrated package of hardware (PC-cluster, I/O, displays and side-stick) and software (Simulink, UAV Blockset, DINAMO, RT-LAB and X-Plane), which operates straight out of the box, but is entirely open to customization.

The UAV Simulator allows the UAV researchers to quickly focus on their specific UAV application. Build a UAV model with the UAV Simulink Blockset, complete with two sample UAV models that can be used as is, or as a template for custom developments. Convert the Simulink models to C-code and run them using RT-LABs code-free process. Target the QNX RTOS for real-time simulations with HIL, or the Windows OS for less demanding real-time and as-fast-as-possible simulations. Trim your UAV with DINAMO Trim. Set the initial conditions, altitude, speed and location, and let DINAMO compute the attitude and surfaces needed to initialize your simulation. Control the UAV simulation with the supplied joystick or waypoint panel, enabling research in man-machine interfaces or autonomous behaviour. View the flight simulation through the X-Plane scenery generator (out the window, avionics and map displays are possible) or interface the simulation to your preferred scenery generator and avionic displays using RT-LABs full-featured API.

Connectivity

• Controller: Joystick, autopilot
• Integrated: Simulink/RTW, LabVIEW
• External Communications: X-Plane, VAPS, Altia
• API Tools: C, VB, FORTRAN, MATLAB, Python, TestStand Click Here for more information on connectivity features of RT-LAB

Scale the simulator hardware by adding PCs, to accommodate more detailed system models or many UAVs flying together. Interface to Hardware in the Loop by using RT-LAB I/O and the provided library blocks:

• RT-LAB supports most off-the-shelf Analog and Digital I/O interface boards from: National Instruments, Acromag, RTD, Sensoray, Quanser
• MIL 1553 Interface: SBS Technologies
• MIL 429 Interface: SBS Technologies
• LVDT/RVDT Emulators: Opal-RT Technologies

Optional Components

• Employ the HLA blocks to evaluate your UAV in an operational environment. Create a swarm of UAVs and connect as one object or connect each UAV separately.
• Use DINAMO Parameter Estimation to match your Simulink model to flight test data. Tune your model to match reality.
• Study your design with AeroScripts. Use a library of MATLAB scripts to linearize, trim and perform flight dynamics analysis on your Simulink model.