Fundamentals of Micro Air Vehicle Flight Dynamics

Abstract Flight dynamics describe possible interactions between the air flow generated by the aircraft and the inertial motion of the aircraft; the nature of those interactions is the physical foundation of flight control. This chapter outlines theoretical and practical knowledge on flight dynamics available from large‐scale aviation which is relevant to professional micro air vehicle (MAV) design. The emphasis is on good understanding of flight dynamics as the cornerstone of MAV flight performance and also a key factor in MAV control design. The influence of the aerodynamics on the MAV flight dynamics is of fundamental importance and hence the meaning of aerodynamic modeling is explained in detail, together with the associated sensor technology. The MAV sensors, required for flight dynamics measurements, are essential for practical implementation at the required scale.