A lightweight MATLAB® function to easily visualize flight test data recordings and outputs of nonlinear flight dynamics simulators. To download the official releases and rate aircraft_3d_animation function, please visit its page on FileExchange.
- 3D aircraft models with moveable flight control surfaces: the SAAB Gripen and the North American X-15
- Flight control surfaces saturation monitors (color highlighting of saturated surfaces)
- Departure from controlled flight monitor (red color highlighting)
- Selectable maneuver reproduction speed
- Export maneuver animation to an MP4 video file
- Highly customizable for other aircraft 3D model
- Extract the ZIP file (or clone the git repository) somewhere you can easily reach it.
- Add the
src/folder to your path in MATLAB: e.g.- using the "Set Path" dialog in MATLAB, or
- by running the
addpathfunction from your command window orstartupscript.
Just feed your flight test or simulation data to the aircraft_3d_animation function as follows:
%% Example script to visualize the aircraft simulation data
% Add the path of the aircraft_3d_animation function
addpath('../src/');
% path of the *.mat file containing the 3d model information
model_info_file = '../3d_models/saab_gripen_3d_model.mat';
% Load the simulation data
% load('scissors_maneuver.mat')
% load('breakaway_maneuver.mat')
% load('split_s_maneuver.mat')
load('departure.mat')
% define the reproduction speed factor
speedx = 1;
% Do you want to save the animation in a mp4 file? (0.No, 1.Yes)
isave_movie = 0;
% Movie file name
movie_file_name = '';
% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
% The frame sample time shall be higher than 0.02 seconds to be able to
% update the figure (CPU/GPU constraints)
frame_sample_time = max(0.02, tout(2)-tout(1));
% Resample the time vector to modify the reproduction speed
t_new = tout(1):frame_sample_time*(speedx):tout(end);
% Resample the recorded data
act = interp1(tout, act, t_new','linear');
stick = interp1(tout, stick, t_new','linear');
y_new = interp1(tout, yout, t_new','linear');
% We have to be careful with angles with ranges
y_new(:, 7) = atan2(interp1(tout, sin(yout(:, 7)), t_new','linear'), interp1(tout, cos(yout(:, 7)), t_new','linear')) * 180 / pi;
y_new(:, 8) = atan2(interp1(tout, sin(yout(:, 8)), t_new','linear'), interp1(tout, cos(yout(:, 8)), t_new','linear')) * 180 / pi;
y_new(:, 9) = atan2(interp1(tout, sin(yout(:, 9)), t_new','linear'), interp1(tout, cos(yout(:, 9)), t_new','linear')) * 180 / pi;
% Assign the data
heading_deg = y_new(:, 7);
pitch_deg = y_new(:, 8);
bank_deg = y_new(:, 9);
roll_command = -stick(:, 2);
pitch_command = -stick(:, 1);
angle_of_attack_deg = y_new(:, 2) * 180 / pi;
angle_of_sideslip_deg = y_new(:, 3) * 180 / pi;
fligh_path_angle_deg = y_new(:, 22) * 180 / pi;
mach = y_new(:, 21);
altitude_ft = -y_new(:, 12);
nz_g = y_new(:, 19);
% Flight control surfaces
le = act(:, 9);
dr = act(:, 8);
df1 = act(:, 6);
df2 = act(:, 5);
df3 = act(:, 4);
df4 = act(:, 3);
dfp = 0.5 * (act(:, 1) + act(:, 2));
% Control array assignation
% (modify the order according to your particular 3D model)
controls_deflection_deg = [dfp(:), dfp(:), le(:), le(:), dr(:), 0.5*(df1(:)+df2(:)), 0.5*(df3(:)+df4(:))];
%% Run aircraft_3d_animation function
% -------------------------------------------------------------------------
aircraft_3d_animation(model_info_file,...
heading_deg, ... Heading angle [deg]
pitch_deg, ... Pitch angle [deg]
bank_deg, ... Roll angle [deg]
roll_command, ... Roll stick command [-1,+1] [-1 -> left, +1 -> right]
pitch_command, ... Pitch stick command [-1,+1] [-1 -> full-back stick, +1 -> full-fwd stick]
angle_of_attack_deg, ... AoA [deg]
angle_of_sideslip_deg, ... AoS [deg]
fligh_path_angle_deg, ... Flight path angle [deg]
mach, ... Mach number
altitude_ft, ... Altitude [ft]
nz_g, ... Vertical load factor [g]
controls_deflection_deg, ...Flight control deflection (each column is a control surface)
frame_sample_time, ... Sample time [sec]
speedx, ... Reproduction speed
isave_movie, ... Save the movie? 0-1
movie_file_name); % Movie file nameThe first thing you will need to do is to look for is a 3D model in *.stl format (STereoLithography) that best represents the external geometry of the plane or air vehicle.
There is a wide variety of web pages where you can find an infinity of 3D models to download for free. I recommend you to have a look at the following websites where you will surely find the 3D model you are looking for:
As aircraft_3d_animation function allows animating the moving parts of the aircraft, first, you will have to separate the 3D model into two sets of parts/submodels: the rigid parts that are solidly attached to the main body (fuselage, wings, cockpit, etc.), and set of parts that can move and/or rotate with respect to the main body (flight control surfaces, landing gear, etc.). You can use any 3D editing tool to split the model's moveable flight control surfaces, I personally like MeshLab, since it's easy to use, and above all, it's completely free.
For further information about how to implement your own 3D model, have a look at the import_stl_model folder.
- For more information about
aircraft_3d_animation, have a look at this post on Medium. If you are a good MATLAB® programmer, you are always welcome to help improvingaircraft_3d_animationfunction! - If you experience bugs or would like to request a feature, please visit our issue tracker.