The development of the tri-turbofan airship model for autonomous flight control research

This paper presents the results of a research project into the development of a dynamic mathematical model for the Tri-Turbofan Airship. This research is currently being conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio Controls, Computations, and Cybernetics Laboratory. The mathematical model will use a first principle force model based on actual flight test data that has been collected at both the Control, Computing, and Cybernetics Laboratory and the Gait Analysis and Innovative Technologies Laboratory. A dynamic first principle mathematical model is currently being created that is based on actual flight test data and simulations. This model can then be used to create both linear and nonlinear controls system for autonomous airship operations. The purpose of this airship research is to develop simulations for formation control of airships.