Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of Aerodynamic Objects

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation is often used to evaluate the effectiveness of missile seeker sensors and guidance control systems in engagement scenarios. This paper describes a novel application of hardware-inthe-loop concept to wind-tunnel testing of aircraft. As unsteady aerodynamics are difficult to model numerically we propose a framework within which we can predict experimentally trajectory of aircraft in free flight. To demonstrate the concept, we consider an example for predictions of an airfoil trajectory in pitch in a falling free flight.