MAAM

MAAM (Mission-based Availability Assessment for Multirotor UAVs) is a third party funded project with the aim to increase the safety of autonomous multirotor UAVs through modern PHM algorithms and intelligent monitoring systems.

Small multirotor UAV systems offer numerous application possibilities in the most diverse business fields. Current studies predict a rapid increase in the market. However, the basis for economic use is often an at least semi-autonomous flight without a pilot. For safety reasons, a system that is able to react to any disturbances of the mission plan is absolutely necessary. In addition to environmental disturbances such as wind or unexpected obstacles, technical disturbances of the flight system represent the greatest risk potential. With the aid of modern PHM algorithms (PHM = Prognostics and Health Management) and condition monitoring, the system status can be diagnosed and in some cases even predicted at any time.

Now models of the flight system make it possible to determine relevant flight performance parameters depending on the current system status. In addition, the models are used for the predictive load determination from the mission plan. A comparison of loads of different hierarchically structured missions with the condition-dependent flight performance parameters leads to information about the mission-specific availability of the UAV and also enables the risk of failure to be determined.

The project includes the following points:

  • Development of methods and procedures to determine the flight performance of multicopters
  • Construction of an X8 research multicoper with redundant drive trains in coaxial configuration
  • Detailed system analysis, determination of flight mechanical models and performance parameters as well as definition of critical technical components with the help of common procedures (FTA, FMECA)
  • Launching of a test rig for the analysis of component faults in the drive train of multicopters and the investigation of power losses due to ambient interference
  • Development of a complex simulation environment to investigate methods for determining the system status and mission-based availability of the research multiopters
  • Analysis of limits and failures of the processes and algorithms as well as evaluation of the overall process with regard to industrial applicability

Evaluation (Test rig and Demonstrator)

The aim of the test bench and demonstrator is on the one hand the verification of models of the simulation environment and on the other hand the analysis of system behaviour, technical faults and environmental influences on flight performance.