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AAM-VDT: Vehicle Digital Twin for Tele-Operations in Advanced Air Mobility

Tuan Anh Nguyen, Taeho Kwag, Vinh Pham, Viet Nghia Nguyen, Jeongseok Hyun, Minseok Jang, Jae-Woo Lee

TL;DR

The paper addresses safe and efficient BVLOS tele-operations in Advanced Air Mobility by proposing a Vehicle Digital Twin (VDT) that pairs a high-fidelity eVTOL replica with immersive VR. It introduces an architecture with X-In-The-Loop validation, an AeroDB generated by multi-fidelity data fusion using Extended Hierarchical Kriging (EHK), and a D2P pipeline that translates digital setpoints into physical actions at a fixed rate. Experiments include propulsion data collection, AeroDB fidelity analysis, and immersive tele-operation tests, validating accurate command transmission and digital-physical synchronization. Results indicate the AeroDB fused with HF CFD and LF methods provides superior fidelity to single-source data, and the D2P workflow with 30 Hz Offboard updates enables robust BVLOS remote operations.

Abstract

This study advanced tele-operations in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) through the creation of a Vehicle Digital Twin (VDT) system for eVTOL aircraft, tailored to enhance remote control safety and efficiency, especially for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. By synergizing digital twin technology with immersive Virtual Reality (VR) interfaces, we notably elevate situational awareness and control precision for remote operators. Our VDT framework integrates immersive tele-operation with a high-fidelity aerodynamic database, essential for authentically simulating flight dynamics and control tactics. At the heart of our methodology lies an eVTOL's high-fidelity digital replica, placed within a simulated reality that accurately reflects physical laws, enabling operators to manage the aircraft via a master-slave dynamic, substantially outperforming traditional 2D interfaces. The architecture of the designed system ensures seamless interaction between the operator, the digital twin, and the actual aircraft, facilitating exact, instantaneous feedback. Experimental assessments, involving propulsion data gathering, simulation database fidelity verification, and tele-operation testing, verify the system's capability in precise control command transmission and maintaining the digital-physical eVTOL synchronization. Our findings underscore the VDT system's potential in augmenting AAM efficiency and safety, paving the way for broader digital twin application in autonomous aerial vehicles.

AAM-VDT: Vehicle Digital Twin for Tele-Operations in Advanced Air Mobility

TL;DR

The paper addresses safe and efficient BVLOS tele-operations in Advanced Air Mobility by proposing a Vehicle Digital Twin (VDT) that pairs a high-fidelity eVTOL replica with immersive VR. It introduces an architecture with X-In-The-Loop validation, an AeroDB generated by multi-fidelity data fusion using Extended Hierarchical Kriging (EHK), and a D2P pipeline that translates digital setpoints into physical actions at a fixed rate. Experiments include propulsion data collection, AeroDB fidelity analysis, and immersive tele-operation tests, validating accurate command transmission and digital-physical synchronization. Results indicate the AeroDB fused with HF CFD and LF methods provides superior fidelity to single-source data, and the D2P workflow with 30 Hz Offboard updates enables robust BVLOS remote operations.

Abstract

This study advanced tele-operations in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) through the creation of a Vehicle Digital Twin (VDT) system for eVTOL aircraft, tailored to enhance remote control safety and efficiency, especially for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. By synergizing digital twin technology with immersive Virtual Reality (VR) interfaces, we notably elevate situational awareness and control precision for remote operators. Our VDT framework integrates immersive tele-operation with a high-fidelity aerodynamic database, essential for authentically simulating flight dynamics and control tactics. At the heart of our methodology lies an eVTOL's high-fidelity digital replica, placed within a simulated reality that accurately reflects physical laws, enabling operators to manage the aircraft via a master-slave dynamic, substantially outperforming traditional 2D interfaces. The architecture of the designed system ensures seamless interaction between the operator, the digital twin, and the actual aircraft, facilitating exact, instantaneous feedback. Experimental assessments, involving propulsion data gathering, simulation database fidelity verification, and tele-operation testing, verify the system's capability in precise control command transmission and maintaining the digital-physical eVTOL synchronization. Our findings underscore the VDT system's potential in augmenting AAM efficiency and safety, paving the way for broader digital twin application in autonomous aerial vehicles.
Paper Structure (12 sections, 8 equations, 9 figures, 4 tables)

This paper contains 12 sections, 8 equations, 9 figures, 4 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Framework Proposal
  3. AAM Vehicle Configuration and Modeling
  4. Immersive Tele-Operation
  5. High-Fidelity Aerodynamic Database Generation
  6. AeroDB Generation Framework
  7. Proposed Data Fusion Method
  8. Experiments and Results
  9. Experimental Propulsion Data
  10. Simulation database fidelity analysis and verification
  11. Tele-operation Experiments
  12. Conclusion

Figures (9)

  • Figure 1: Vehicle Digital Twin Framework
  • Figure 2: KP-2 Scaled Model’s Configuration and Flight Modes: (a) Real-world scaled model of KP-2 ($\sim$11.828 kg) (b) Body Frame and Coordinates (c) VTOL mode $(\delta_{t} = {90}^{\circ})$ (d) Tilting mode $({0}^{\circ} \leq \delta_{t} \leq {90}^{\circ})$ (e) Cruising mode $(\delta_{t} = {0}^{\circ})$
  • Figure 3: Digital to Physical System Integration
  • Figure 4: Wind Tunnel Facilities
  • Figure 5: DOE and CFD Analyses; (a) Design of experiment for CFD analysis (b) Presentation of boundary conditions, far-field and prism boundary layer mesh of fuselage and wing. (c) Visualization of simulation results depicting pressure distribution on the surface.
  • ...and 4 more figures