Design and Implementation of Generic HIL Framework for Autonomous Aerial Vehicles: An Efficient Approach

Integration testing is an essential step in integration of avionics and flight control systems. Specialized Hardware in Loop Simulation (HILS) HILs setup is required to fulfill this need. This research proposes framework for the design and actual development of a generic Hardware in Loop (HIL) framework that can be utilized for the testing/calibration of such systems and associated sensors. The proposed framework utilizing state of the art 3-axis motion platform aims to improve the performance of Hardware in loop simulation of COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) and indigenously developed flight control systems. The motion platform provides the attitude of simulated aircraft to the flight control system. The framework also integrates the FCS sensors thereby ensuring complete harware integration. The corrections from autopilot are provided to HIL simulator developed for the simulated aircraft, thereby completing the simulation loop. The authenticity of the proposed framework is verified through extensive functional runs. To results are further demonstrated by designing an isolated Processor In Loop Simulator (PILS). The validation and integrity of the results acquired from the proposed HILS is demonstrated by comparing the results with those achieved from PILS.