Micro-Air Vehicle Control Using Microelectromechanical Systems Sensors

Abstract

Micro Air Vehicles (MAV) are small unmanned aircraft that are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances causing dynamic changes in attitude and flight stability compared to more traditional unmanned air vehicles. Controlling the stability of an MAV is difficult and a significant research issue. The goal of this project is to perform a proof of concept study based on literature to demonstrate that Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors can control the longitudinal stability of an MAV. MEMS sensors, specifically flow sensors used in this project, predict perturbations and aerodynamic effects which is critical for MAV performance because flight predictions can be used to prevent stall and failure in an MAV. The project focused on developing a control system that implemented MEMS sensors on a wing section and was tested in The University of Arizona's Educational Wind Tunnel.