Rigid–Flexible Coupling Model-Driven Simulation of UAV Catapult Takeoff with Control Law

The expanding deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in constrained maritime environments necessitates high-fidelity modeling of catapult takeoff. Existing approaches often neglect the coupled interactions among structural dynamics, flight dynamics, and control systems. A rigid–flexible coupling simulation framework is developed integrating multibody dynamics, six-degree-of-freedom flight dynamics with unsteady aerodynamics, real-time flight control laws, and carrier motion. The framework quantifies nonlinear couplings among UAV attitude, landing gear load, and equivalent control surface deflection throughout the takeoff sequence. Simulation is conducted to establish correlations between elevator deflection and pitch angle rate response. Furthermore, the influence of takeoff weight on trajectory, acceleration, and attitude is analyzed, revealing the dynamic response variations across the roll and climb phases. The proposed approach enhances understanding of UAV catapult dynamics and supports the design and optimization of launch systems for mobile platforms.