High Fidelity Modeling and Qualification of a Canard Actuation System

An accurate actuator model is essential to evaluate the performance of a control system during time domain simulation. Linearized motor transfer function based on closed-loop actuation system can often be found in the literature but these simplified models do not address the non-linear behaviors that exist in the real physical system. Such simplified models are often sufficient for evaluating the closed-loop system with a small demand of precision. However, the dynamic model of the canard actuation system, as the main actuator of the ammunition, must be represented with very high precision to obtain reliable results via numerical simulations. This paper details the modeling problem of a high-fidelity closed-loop actuation system with an inner current-loop, based on three phase induction motor and motor driver, as well as an outer-loop for controlling the angular position of the motor. The simulation results are then compared with hardware-in-the-loop test realized with motor and its driver in the loop in a full-scale wind-tunnel to qualify the numerical model and quantify the uncertainties, which will later be used to assess realistic performances.