Phugoid Motion Simulation

Phugoid motion simulator with real-time plots and centered animation using state-space modeling.

This project presents a MATLAB-based application developed to simulate and visualize the phugoid mode of aircraft motion, which is a long-period longitudinal oscillation. The model is based on a simplified state-space representation of aircraft dynamics, capturing the interaction between velocity, altitude, and pitch behavior.

The application allows users to modify key parameters such as initial velocity, flight path angle, and damping factor to observe their effect on system stability. Graphical outputs including velocity, flight path angle, and altitude are plotted over time. Additionally, a real-time 2D animation is implemented where the aircraft remains centered while the trajectory evolves around it.

A stability detection algorithm is incorporated to automatically stop the simulation once oscillations decay, making the application both interactive and physically meaningful. This tool provides a clear understanding of phugoid dynamics and the role of damping in aircraft stability.