Small-scale coaxial armed unmanned helicopter flight dynamics investigation

Nowadays, small-scale unmanned helicopter gains more and more attentions. Unmanned helicopter arming is an important route of development, as same as civil development. This kind of helicopter has dimensional advantages. It has high manoeuvre ability and low-cost feature. In this sense, it has great prospect for military development. Therefore a program of small-scale coaxial armed unmanned helicopter (SCAUH) system development has begun. The aim of this paper is to investigate the dynamics characteristics of SCAUH, in order to pave the way for product development. The paper discusses the mathematical model of SCAUH and gains the trim results of different mounting conditions. Furthermore, based on numerical differentiation technique, the dynamic stability of SCAUH model is assessed. What’s more, an initial identification experiment was carried out. The results of the present work implied that asymmetric force caused by asymmetric mounting can be well trimmed. Concerning the dynamic stability characteristics, as load increases, stability declines. Identification tests gain a more accurate model, which can be used as initial reference for control system design. For the future, the research can be improved by combining designed flight control system, which could perhaps reinforce the potential of SCAUH and handle the dynamic response of asymmetric launching.