Functional Simulator: A Model-Based Approach to Emulating eVTOL Aircraft

Modern aircraft systems are increasingly more software intensive, interconnected, and complex than ever before. Because of this, Model-Based Design has been adopted by various aircraft functional organizations and aerospace vendors for modeling an increasing number of aircraft components. While physics-based simulation and Model-Based Design have made significant inroads into control systems design, flight simulation, cockpit display design, and aircraft subsystem design, there has never been an attempt to bring an entire aircraft’s collection of system hardware, software, physics, and extrinsic environment into a single simulation system-of-systems. In this session, hear about simulation and modeling activities in the space of aircraft design and evaluation, to take on the new role of overall system simulation including the integration of all flight software and firmware behavior under one roof. This integrated simulation of system-of-systems is called Functional Simulator. Unlike traditional aircraft flight simulations, which do not include major systems and subsystems, Functional Simulator includes all major functional and dynamical features of the aircraft, including actuation, propulsion, energy or fuel management, thermal management, non-propulsive power, navigation sensors, flight computers, and inceptors.