Use of real time simulation in a laboratory course

Over the past few decades, computer simulations have become an important tool for flight control system design. Use of a simulation gives the engineer a safe, quick and convenient method for testing or designing new controllers. In the past several years, many colleges have begun using computer simulations in conjunction with teaching control design. At the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Aerospace Engineering, one of the senior level aerospace engineering laboratory courses, AE 4525, has developed three new experiments to utilize computer flight simulator technology. This allows the students to design and test various controllers using a high fidelity flight simulator, instead of studying only more idealized theoretical models.