Parameter-Varying Estimation Toolbox

ZONA Technology proposes a R&D effort to develop a Parameter-Varying Estimation (PVE) Toolbox that will rapidly evaluate and predict parameters that are required to certify an aircraft during flutter and store clearance expansion programs, as well as during flying qualities flight testing. The ZONA Team proposes to develop the PVE Toolbox through a blend of state-of-the-art control and signal oriented techniques to deal with short or long duration flight test data segments. The PVE Toolbox algorithms are built upon an integrated parameter estimation framework with explicit consideration of flight-condition dependency. The procedure calls for parameter-varying models to be quickly tuned with modal information embedded in the aeroelastic flight-test data. Feasibility studies are proposed to validate the PVE Toolbox using a suite of simulated and actual data from flutter and flying qualities tests. Once successfully validated, the PVE prototypical algorithms will be integrated with an interactive Graphical User Interface to become the software core of the robust parameter identification tool in Phase II. Marketing the resulting software package will be simplified by taking advantage of ZONA's current extensive customer support. ZONA Technology’s reputation and track record in supporting the aerospace industry and government with ZONA codes can assure the success of the commercialization plan.