MECENG 236U
Dynamics and Control of Autonomous Flight
This course is a room share with ME136, and teaches students the dynamic analysis and control of uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs). The course covers modeling and dynamics of aerial vehicles, common control strategies, sensing and estimation. A laboratory sequence allows students to apply knowledge on a real quadcopter system, by programming a microcontroller to control a UAV.
Topics
- Introduce the students to analysis, modeling, and control of unmanned aerial vehicles. Lectures will cover: • Principle forces acting on a UAV, including aerodynamics of propellers • The kinematics and dynamics of rotations, and 3D modeling of vehicle dynamics • Typical sensors, and their modeling • Typical control strategies, and their pitfalls • Programming a microcontroller During the laboratory sessions, students will apply these skills to create a model-based controller for a UAV.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027