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Autopilots
| trueHWILmp|
UAV Demonstrators |
Ground Control Software |
Brochure
MicroPilot's new True Hardware in the Loop (trueHWILmp)
simulator offers UAV integrators and researchers the highest fidelity
UAV autopilot simulation available on the market today.
Existing quasi hardware-in-the-loop simulators
approximate a UAVs flight by exchange sensor and control surface position
information with the autopilot over a serial port or CAN bus. This form
of simulation introduces inaccuracies as an autopilot in-flight reads
this information directly from its sensors instead of a serial port
or CAN bus. MicroPilot’s trueHWILmp offers a dramatic improvement
in simulator fidelity by electrically simulating all sensor outputs
using analog-to-digital converter, signal conditioning and PWM interface
boards. MicroPilot’s trueHWILmp allows our customers to replicate
the conditions their UAVs experiences in flight offering superior on
the ground validation of autopilot setup and integration.
TrueHWILmp is available for:
System Requirements
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The trueHWILmp
is a set of hardware and software components which provide environment
for the true real-time simulation of flights of MicroPilot autopilots
MP2128g and MP2028g. The Simulator is
an excellent tool for testing the MicroPilot autopilot in flight
while the autopilot itself is sitting on the ground. The trueHWILmp
provides safe testing environment for all UAV components and
allows adjusting flight parameters, checking integrity and functioning
of on-board equipment and payload. The trueHWILmp
is also a flexible tool for designing new UAVs allowing to:
- build the models of different airframes, payloads, servos,
on-board equipment and instruments
- provide interaction between the autopilot and simulated
models or physical devices
- create unique flight conditions and scenarios for the
autopilot or on-board equipment.
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| Programming
Environment
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The trueHWILmp uses MathWork's
MATLAB as a simulation and programming environment.* The model
is built using Simulink and MATLAB high-level language programming.
The model is then compiled and sent to the xPC Target computer
with installed dedicated input/output hardware. This acquisition
hardware is connected to the autopilot and reads its outputs
and stimulates its inputs. Connection can also be made to other
hardware components of the UAV to provide extended functionality
of the Simulator. The UAV flight can be controlled and monitored
by HORIZONmp. The trueHWILmp also provides
3-D visualization of flights using 3rd party products, such
as X-Plane.
*Matlab is optional. You do not need it
to simulate your UAV. The trueHWILmp includes a full
pre-compiled matlab UAV simulation that allows our customers
to access the power of the trueHWIL without the expense of purchasing
Matlab. The structure of the simulator is fixed but parameters
can be changed using the trueHWILmp control center
on their PC.
For those who want full flexibility in their simulation or for
those who already have Matlab, MicroPilot provides a full Matlab-based
6-dof flight simulator for use as a basis of simulation. |
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The interface boards
necessary to run the thwil are:
National Instruments NI PCI-6602 Counter/Timer Device
National Instruments NI PCI-6703 Digital to Analog Converter
(DAC)
The Matlab components needed to build a simulations are:
MathWorks MATLAB, release R2006b+ (or later) With the following
components
Simulink
Control System Toolbox
Real-Time Workshop
xPC Target
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