Model-based design speeds flight code generation

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jun 7, 2005

Software tools from The MathWorks have enabled the development of advanced real-time trajectory generation flight software for use in an unmanned aerial vehicle flying testbed.

Aerospace-industry-leading software from The MathWorks has enabled Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems Sector to develop the Northrop Grumman Trajectory Generation (NGTG) software package of advanced real-time trajectory generation flight software for use in an unmanned aerial vehicle flying testbed.

The NGTG software package enables real-time computation of feasible UAV trajectories on approach to a simulated landing.

By leveraging MathWorks tools, including Matlab, Simulink, Stateflow and Real-Time Workshop Embedded Coder, Northrop Grumman was able to design, automatically generate and deploy the advanced real-time trajectory generation flight software.

These tools let Northrop Grumman use model-based design to significantly reduce the development time of the high-integrity flight software.

"This real-time trajectory generation technology will enhance the survivability and reliability of our UAV product line", said Dr Robert Miller, Northrop Grumman Software Enabled Control (SEC) Principal Investigator.

"MathWorks tools continue to play a major role in our ability to develop flight software".

The unmanned aerial vehicle flying test bed was featured during flight demonstrations and experiments at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Centre at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The event, which was conducted as part of the SEC programme sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), demonstrated emerging autonomous control technologies that will allow real-time collision avoidance, autonomous evasive manoeuvres, autonomous rerouting in response to pop-up threats and in-flight faults, and even UAV mission tasking using voice commands and a common language vocabulary.

"Northrup Grumman's use of model-based design with flight code generation exemplifies the ways in which MathWorks tools are delivering proven results, minimising program risk and enabling large aerospace teams to more efficiently develop onboard systems and software", said Paul Barnard, Control Design Marketing Director, The MathWorks.