DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATIC HEIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WIG CRAFTS

Abstract A WIG craft takes advantage of the ground effect phenomenon, where this kind of craft are designed to fly at low altitudes close to the ground (between 0.05 − 0.5 of the wing cord) to experience an increase in lift, while drag decreases, this result in an enhanced lift-to-drag ratio and hence greater flight efficiency. However to achieve an ideal flying altitude and a safety low flight is necessary to implement an automatic height control system capable of sustaining the WIG craft stable. The concept is to take out the “hand of the man” from the control of the altitude, so that the system will take over the control of the elevator and correct the flying altitude until the ideal level is reached and maintain it there. In addition, this system can also be used to provide accurate flight altitude.