Bold face variables indicate vectors or matrices and non-bold face variables represent scalars.
The default frame for each variable is the local frame: .
Right superscripts represent the coordinate frame.
If no right superscript is present, then the default frame is assumed.
An exception is given by Rotation Matrices, where the lower right subscripts indicates the current frame and the right superscripts the target frame.
Variables and subscripts can share the same letter, but they always have different meaning.
Coordinate system where the X-axis is pointing towards the Front of the vehicle, the Y-axis is pointing Right and the Z-axis is pointing Down, completing the right-hand rule.
FW
Fixed-Wing.
MC
MultiCopter.
MPC or MCPC
MultiCopter Position Controller. MPC is also used for Model Predictive Control.
NED
Coordinate system where the X-axis is pointing towards the true North, the Y-axis is pointing East and the Z-axis is pointing Down, completing the right-hand rule.
PID
Controller with Proportional, Integral and Derivative actions.
Translation along coordinate axis x,y and z respectively.
Position vector:
Velocity vector:
Acceleration vector:
Angle of attack (AOA).
Wing span (from tip to tip).
Wing area.
Aspect ratio:
Angle of sideslip (AOS).
Wing chord length.
Aerodynamic control surface angular deflection. A positive deflection generates a negative moment.
Euler angles roll (=Bank), pitch and yaw (=Heading).
Attitude vector:
Forces along coordinate axis x,y and z.
Force vector:
Drag force.
Cross-wind force.
Lift force.
Gravity.
Moments around coordinate axis x,y and z.
Moment vector
Mach number. Can be neglected for scale aircrafts.
Vector part of Quaternion.
Hamiltonian attitude quaternion. . describes the attitude relative to the local frame . To represent a vector in local frame given a vector in body frame, the following operation can be used: (or instead of if is not unitary). represents a quaternionized vector:
Rotation matrix. Rotates a vector from frame to frame .
