Thrust vectoring on an UCAV airplane (thrust vectoring engine model): advanced control system.

Since the early development of the Sky-X UAV demonstra- tor, Alenia Aermacchi has been studying a thrust vectored version of that airplane. For this reason, in 2010, Alenia Aermacchi offered a three years PhD funding to the Depart- ment of Aerospace Engineering of Politecnico di Torino. In particular a vane based thrust vectoring system had to be studied, the development of open and flexible software tools was a priority in the project. The tools had to be cus- tomizable and a general estimation model of the system had to be developed. The research analysis took place during three years and involved several areas of the company and of aerospace en- gineering. In particular three main areas were covered in the study: propulsion, aerodynamics , flight dynamics.