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Brian Neiswander, Nikola Trica, Ali Nejad, Sam Turton, Teresa Hubscher-Younger, and Tianyi Zhu

Welcome to Modeling the Quadcopter Airframe, the second course in the Engineering Design and Simulation Program. In this course, you will gain the skills to model the mechanical subsystems, analyze flight dynamics, and refine your designs using simulations.

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Welcome to Modeling the Quadcopter Airframe, the second course in the Engineering Design and Simulation Program. In this course, you will gain the skills to model the mechanical subsystems, analyze flight dynamics, and refine your designs using simulations.

Building upon the foundation established in the first course of the program, this course focuses on breaking down the complex quadcopter system into smaller, more manageable subsystems. You will learn the mechanical part of the quadcopter, known as the airframe subsystem, and simulate its flight behavior. You will model free-body diagrams and mathematical equations into block diagrams through a step-by-step approach, enabling a detailed analysis of the quadcopter’s flight dynamics. To accurately represent the physical system and model the mathematical equations involved in the quadcopter’s motion, you will utilize Simulink and Simscape, powerful tools used in industry for modeling physical systems.

To reinforce your learning, you will have the chance to practice your skills with an additional project. You will model the car's suspension system and analyze the effects of changing passenger loads on the ride quality under various road conditions. This practical application will further enhance your modeling and analysis skills.

By the end of this course, you will balance the upward thrust of the propellers against the downward force of gravity to see your quadcopter take flight.

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.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to model the mechanical component
  • How to simulate and test the mechanical subsystem
  • How to analyze flight dynamics
  • How to refine a quadcopter simulation

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for students new to modeling
Provides a balance of theory and practical application
Uses industry-leading Simulink and Simscape for modeling
No prior modeling experience required
Develops fundamental modeling workflows
Builds a strong foundation for beginners

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Simulating a Quadcopter's Flight with these activities:
Model Simple Mechanical Systems
Reinforce basic mechanical modeling skills, which form the foundation of studying the quadcopter airframe, to improve your understanding of the course material.
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  • Recall knowledge of basic mechanical systems
  • Review free-body diagrams and equations of motion
  • Practice modeling simple mechanical systems using mathematical equations
Review basic mechanical engineering concepts
This course builds upon the foundation established in the first course of the program, so refreshing your memory of basic mechanical engineering concepts will help you in this course.
Browse courses on Mechanical Engineering
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  • Review your notes or textbooks from previous mechanical engineering courses.
  • Go online and find some practice problems to solve.
  • Attend a review session or workshop on mechanical engineering concepts.
Organize Course Notes and Resources
Take the time to organize your notes, assignments, and resources, making them easily accessible for future reference and review, which can significantly improve your ability to recall and retain information.
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  • Gather and sort through course materials
  • Create a systematic filing system
  • Review and summarize key concepts regularly
11 other activities
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Find a mentor who can provide guidance
A mentor can provide you with valuable guidance and support throughout the course, and help you to stay motivated and on track.
Browse courses on Mechanical Engineering
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  • Identify someone who has experience in the field of mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering.
  • Reach out to them and ask if they would be willing to mentor you.
  • Meet with your mentor regularly to discuss your progress and get feedback.
Follow tutorials on Simulink and Simscape
Simulink and Simscape are the industry-leading block diagram environments used throughout the courses to teach fundamental modeling workflows and you will need a strong understanding of how to use them to succeed in this course.
Browse courses on Simulink
Show steps
  • Find some online tutorials on Simulink and Simscape.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
  • Complete the practice exercises at the end of each tutorial.
Join a study group or online forum
Engaging with your peers can be mutually beneficial, as you can learn from each other and help each other to better understand the course material.
Browse courses on Mechanical Engineering
Show steps
  • Find a study group or online forum that is relevant to the course.
  • Introduce yourself and participate in the discussions.
  • Ask questions and answer the questions of others.
Practice modeling simple mechanical systems
Modeling is a skill that takes practice, and this course will require you to be able to model complex systems such as quadcopters. Regularly modeling simple mechanical systems will help develop and enhance this critical skill.
Browse courses on Mechanical Engineering
Show steps
  • Find some online resources or textbooks with practice problems.
  • Attempt to solve the problems on your own.
  • Check your solutions against the provided answer key.
Practice the motion of the quadcopter using simulations
Practice the flight dynamics of the quadcopter through simulations to refine a model and ensure flight.
Browse courses on Flight Dynamics
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  • Simulate the quadcopter's flight using Simulink and Simscape.
  • Analyze the simulation results and identify areas for improvement.
  • Modify the model based on the analysis and rerun the simulation.
Explore tutorials on advanced modeling techniques using Simulink and Simscape
Explore tutorials to delve into advanced modeling techniques used in the industry to enhance modeling and simulation skills.
Browse courses on Simulink
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  • Identify specific areas where advanced modeling techniques can enhance the quadcopter model.
  • Search for and locate relevant tutorials on Simulink and Simscape.
  • Follow the tutorials and apply the techniques to the quadcopter model.
Participate in Study Groups
Engaging in discussions with peers can enhance your understanding of the material, challenge your perspectives, and foster collaboration, leading to improved learning outcomes.
Show steps
  • Join or form a study group with classmates
  • Actively participate in discussions and presentations
  • Collaborate on assignments and projects
Attend a workshop on quadcopter design or modeling
Attending a workshop is a great way to learn more about quadcopter design and modeling from experts in the field.
Browse courses on Mechanical Engineering
Show steps
  • Find a workshop that is relevant to the course.
  • Register for the workshop.
  • Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.
Design and model a simple quadcopter
To fully grasp the concepts taught in this course, it will be necessary to be able to apply these concepts to real-world scenarios. This project will allow you to do this by designing and modeling a simple quadcopter.
Browse courses on Mechanical Engineering
Show steps
  • Research different quadcopter designs.
  • Choose a design and create a CAD model.
  • Simulate the flight dynamics of your quadcopter using Simulink or Simscape.
  • Analyze the results of your simulation.
  • Refine your design based on your analysis.
Connect With Engineering Professionals
Seeking guidance from experienced engineers who have worked on similar projects can provide valuable insights, expand your understanding, and help you navigate challenges more effectively.
Show steps
  • Identify potential mentors in the field
  • Reach out and express interest in mentorship
  • Schedule regular meetings or discussions
  • Prepare questions and actively engage in discussions
Design and build a simple quadcopter
Design and built a simple quadcopter to test theoretical knowledge and apply learned skills.
Show steps
  • Research and design the quadcopter.
  • Source and gather the necessary materials.
  • Assemble and build the quadcopter.
  • Test and evaluate the performance of the quadcopter.
  • Make modifications and improvements as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Simulating a Quadcopter's Flight will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Simulation Engineer
Simulation Engineers use computer simulation to design and test products and systems.
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineers design and develop machines and other mechanical devices. This course may be useful because it helps build a foundation in modeling the mechanical component of a quadcopter airframe, simulating and testing the mechanical subsystem, and analyzing flight dynamics. These are all skills which transfer directly to the work done by Mechanical Engineers.
Robotics Engineer
Robotics Engineers design and develop robots, which are automated machines that can perform a variety of tasks.
Mechatronics Engineer
Mechatronics Engineers combine electrical and mechanical engineering with computer science to design, develop, and maintain intelligent machines.
Aerospace Engineer
Aerospace Engineers utilize their knowledge of aircraft and spacecraft to design, develop, test, and manage new technologies. Simulating a Quadcopter's Flight may be useful for gaining foundational knowledge about the motion and dynamics of aircraft. Simulink and Simscape are used in the course to model physical systems, including the quadcopter's airframe. Aerospace Engineers use these same tools.
Systems Engineer
Systems Engineers design, develop, and maintain complex systems, such as aircraft, spacecraft, and power plants.
Automotive Engineer
Automotive Engineers apply engineering design, analysis, and testing knowledge to develop and improve automobiles, engines, and related components.
Safety Engineer
Safety Engineers design and implement safety programs.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems.
Reliability Engineer
Reliability Engineers design and implement reliability programs.
Electrical Engineer
Electrical Engineers design and develop electrical and electronic systems, including hardware and software. A course on Simulating a Quadcopter's Flight could help prepare one for this role by teaching design, analysis, and refinement of electrical systems, and how to analyze their flight dynamics in a way that's generalizable to other electrical systems.
Manufacturing Engineer
Manufacturing Engineers oversee the design, planning, and implementation of production processes.
Test Engineer
Test Engineers design and conduct tests to ensure that products and systems meet specifications.
Quality Engineer
Quality Engineers design and implement quality control and quality assurance processes.
Transportation Engineer
Transportation Engineers plan, design, and operate transportation systems.

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Simulating a Quadcopter's Flight.
Provides a useful overview of classical and modern aircraft control. Introduces modern methods such as nonlinear control techniques and adaptive control.
This renowned reference book on aerospace vehicle dynamics presents a thorough treatment of the topic. Useful as supplemental reading.
Is useful for understanding helicopter aerodynamics and dynamics, which is helpful as a background for studying the aerodynamics of quadcopters.
A standard textbook in control engineering. Deals with the principles and design of feedback control systems, and is useful as a background reference.
For those with a very strong background in aerodynamics and who are interested in learning more deeply about the flight dynamics of manned aircraft.
Although this course doesn't cover optimal control in any detail, this book serves as a resource for readers who want to learn more.

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