Simulating a Quadcopter's Electromechanics

Welcome to Modeling the Quadcopter Electromechanical System, the third course in the Engineering Design and Simulation Program. This course introduces the electrical part of the system to model the battery and the transfer of electrical energy to power the mechanical components powering the flight of the quadcopter.

Building upon the foundations established in the first two courses of the program, this course takes you further in refining the quadcopter system model. You will model the quadcopter’s electromechanical components, which include the battery, motor, and propeller. By simulating the behavior of these components, we will determine if they are sufficient to lift the quadcopter off the ground. You will construct multidomain models, which combine multiple engineering disciplines, such as mechanical and electrical. Prebuilt blocks containing essential physics will be introduced to simplify the modeling process. This approach provides engineers with the right level of detail to evaluate a design without spending time to derive every aspect from scratch.

To further explore the system’s behavior, you will run a parameter sweep, characterizing the performance of the electromechanical system under various conditions. This analysis will provide critical insights into optimizing the quadcopter’s design.

The course project focuses on modeling and simulating the dynamics of a hydraulic braking system. Using an incremental modeling approach, you will start with a starter model and gradually add more functionality while varying the applied brake pressure. This practical project will deepen your understanding of complex system behavior and enhance your modeling and simulation skills.

By the end of this course, you will have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to model and simulate the electromechanical system of the quadcopter. You will understand how to visualize the behavior of complex models through measurements and simulations, enabling you to make informed design decisions.

No prior modeling experience is required. Simulink and Simscape, industry-leading block diagram environments, are used throughout the courses to teach fundamental modeling workflows. You will be provided with a free license for the duration of the program.