Aerodynamic coefficients modeling using Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and network

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a new aerodynamic parameter estimation methodology based on neural network and output error method, while the output error method is improved based on particle swarm algorithm. Design/methodology/approach Firstly, the algorithm approximates the dynamic characteristics of aircraft based on feedforward neural network. Neural network is trained by extreme learning machine, and the trained network can predict the aircraft response at (k + 1)th instant given the measured flight data at kth instant. Secondly, particle swarm optimization is used to enhance the convergence of Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm, and the improved LM method is used to substitute for the Gauss Newton algorithm in output error method. Finally, the trained neural network is combined with the improved output error method to estimate aerodynamic derivatives. Findings Neither depending on the initial guess of the parameters to be estimated nor requiring numerical integration of the aircraft motion equation, the proposed algorithm can be used for unstable aircraft and is successfully applied to extract aerodynamic derivatives from both simulated and real flight data. Research limitations/implications The proposed method requires iterative calculation and can only identify parameters offline. Practical implications The proposed method is successfully applied to estimate aircraft aerodynamic parameters and can also be used as a new algorithm for other optimization problems. Originality/value In this study, the output error method is improved to reduce the dependence on the initial value of parameters and expand its application scope. It is applied in aircraft aerodynamic parameter identification together with neural network.