Flight control test of quadrotor-plane with hybrid flight mode of VTOL and fast maneuverability

Abstract

This paper presents the principle, dynamics modeling and control, hardware implementation, and flight test result of a hybrid-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The proposed UAV was designed to provide both hovering and fixed-wing type aerodynamic flight modes. The UAV's flight mode transition was achieved through the attitude transformation in pitch axis, which avoids a complex rotor tilt mechanism from a structural and control viewpoint. To achieve this, a different navigation coordinate was introduced that avoids the gimbal lock in pitch singularity point. Attitude and guidance control algorithms were developed for the flight control system. For flight test purposes, a quadrotor attached with a tailless fixed-wing structure was manufactured. An onboard flight control computer was designed to realize the navigation and control algorithms and the UAV's performance was verified through the outdoor flight tests.