Integrated Simulation Models for High-Altitude Solar-Powered Aircraft

In recent years, there has been much research towards fixed-wing high-altitude solar- powered aircraft. Accurate knowledge about the behavior of the aircraft and its energy system is needed in order to plan and execute these aircrafts’ missions. To this end, an integrated simulation model has been derived. It contains six-degrees-of-freedom flight dynamics, an energy system with solar cells, batteries, motors, and the effect of the en- vironment on the solar radiation. A continuous day-and-night flight has been simulated and results are presented. The model represents all relevant effects for solar-powered air- craft including dynamic interaction between flight dynamics and energy system. The same model is used for pilot training and control design of the aircraft