Procedure for the efficient sampling of a flight envelope

Abstract

A system and method for sampling a flight envelope of an air vehicle under test. The method includes obtaining engineering models of the vehicle to identify how the vehicle behaves, obtaining empirical models through test data, and obtaining historical models of similar legacy aircraft. The method further includes ensembling the models into an integrated model and assessing the ensemble uncertainty at any particular test point, for a variety of aircraft conditions, to determine model reliability. The method includes determining the optimal order of test points based on local model uncertainty, testing the air vehicle at a point, revising the integrated model with that data and reassessing the uncertainty, and determining if a stop testing condition has been met, in which case the testing series is closed. The last calibrated integrated model could then be used to generate trusted data for any remaining required test using a certification by analysis method.