UAVModeling, Simulation, Estimation, and Identification: Introduction

Modeling and simulation techniques are essential and crucial in the design, operation, and performance assessment of UAVs. Together with estimation and identification, they are integral components of the overall UAV design process. They afford the opportunity to develop, test, and evaluate sensing, control, and cooperative control algorithms, among others. Software-in-the-loop and hardwarein-the-loop simulations are typical prerequisites to flight testing. UAV Modeling, Simulation, Estimation and Identification presents a treatment of these topics from first principles to mechanisms that lead to UAV qualification and certification. Flight Dynamics Modeling of Coaxial Rotorcraft UAVs by Wang, Cui, Chen, and Lee aims at presenting a thorough approach related to systematic modeling of UAV flight dynamics by talking about the UAV model formulation, parameter identification, and model verification. The presented methodology of UAV model formulation and parameter identification is based on modeling two kinds of coaxial helicopters. This is a challenging problem as modeling of coaxial helicopters, despite the common governing kinematic and dynamic principles, deserves special attention due to their distinctive mechanical structure and aerodynamics behavior. The modeling procedures and parameter identification technique presented in this chapter may also serve as a guideline for modeling other types of aerial vehicles. Modeling of a Micro UAV with Slung Payload by Feng, Rabbath, and Su derives a mathematical and simulation model of a micro UAV carrying a payload.