Abstract: A method for collecting information required for Bode plot creation of a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) autopilot system is provided. The method comprises: creating a Bode plot generation input signal: adding the Bode plot generation input signal to control inputs; collecting data from multiple points within the control system; calculating magnitude and phase at the multiple points using the data collected; recording the magnitude and phase for the multiple points in a datalog; comparing the magnitude and phase for the multiple points to calculate the gain and phase margins for open loop responses in the control system; creating a Bode plot for at least one of the following: i) a closed loop response of the attitude and/or rate loops, ii) an open loop response of the attitude and/or rate loops and iii) a response of the UAV; and outputting the Bode plot.

Abstract: A method for collecting information required for Bode plot creation of a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) autopilot system is provided. The method comprises: creating a Bode plot generation input signal: adding the Bode plot generation input signal to control inputs; collecting data from multiple points within the control system; calculating magnitude and phase at the multiple points using the data collected; recording the magnitude and phase for the multiple points in a datalog; comparing the magnitude and phase for the multiple points to calculate the gain and phase margins for open loop responses in the control system; creating a Bode plot for at least one of the following: i) a closed loop response of the attitude and/or rate loops, ii) an open loop response of the attitude and/or rate loops and iii) a response of the UAV; and outputting the Bode plot.

Abstract: A system and method for tilt dead reckoning is provided. The system and method allows an autopilot of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to perform dead reckoning with a hovering vehicle during GNSS signal loss by estimating the position and velocity of the vehicle based on its pitch and roll angles and known vehicle dynamics. The position and velocity are estimated using tables set up by a UAV integration engineer that provide the expected airspeed at given pitch and roll angles in steady state. This allows the UAV to attempt to follow waypoints when GNSS signal is lost without using any additional sensors.

Abstract: An electronic flight test card for testing a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) design is provided. The flight test card comprises: a module comprising a list of tests to be performed, each test linked to a requirement for a system or subsystem of the UAV; an interface for communicating with the UAV; a storage medium with a data log for storing the test results captured by the interface; a display module for displaying test items; and an output for exporting the data log to a configuration system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system of designing failure modes of a product is provided. The method comprises: decomposing systems of the product into subsystems based on information stored in a database; receiving through a user interface a failure mode for at least one of the subsystems; adding at least one requirement to the subsystem to address the failure mode; implementing the at least one requirement; validating the implementation at a subsystem level, a system level and a product level; and outputting results of the validating to a configuration system.