Research>Flight dynamics

Background

Dynamics is the study of motion arising due to forces and is based around application of Newton's Second Law (force = rate of change of momentum). Flight dynamics is concerned with the motion of flight vehicles due to gravitational, aerodynamic and propulsive forces. The research presented here includes a number of other subject areas linked with flight dynamics that can be broadly categorised under the flight dynamics heading. These are: Guidance - the study of vehicle trajectory planning, and Control - the study of what forces should be applied such that the vehicle follows the desired trajectory.

Research topics

• Flocking
• Perched landing
• Model based animation of bird flight
• Space craft dynamics