Simulating a Quadcopter's Flight (edX)

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.

This course is part of the Engineering Design and Simulation Professional Certificate.

What you'll learn

- 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