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Abstract

A method of using B-splines to represent non-linear aerodynamic functions in flight dynamic modelling is presented. This method offers potential advantages over traditional look-up table and polynomial representations for the problem of parameter identification from flight test data. The method offers a natural fit to an underlying smooth function with guaranteed continuity properties. In addition, the B-spline coefficients offer improved conditioning to the identification process, encouraging improved convergence properties of identification algorithms. A reduction in the number of flight tests required is possible, since large portions of non-linear functions can be identified from large-amplitude manoeuvres. In addition, when used with the maximum likelihood estimation method, the Cramer-Rao estimates of parameter confidence are preserved and can be expressed in a B-spline format.

Keywords

aerodynamic modelling parameter identification B-spline

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Modelling and identification of non-linear aerodynamic functions using B-splines

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