Bank angle from horizon frame?

In summary, the conversation is about finding the bank angle of an aircraft in relation to its local frame and the horizon frame. The person asking the question has attempted a solution using unit vectors and projections, but it does not work correctly in certain situations. Another person suggests a solution of projecting the up vector onto a plane and calculating the angle between the resulting vector and the actual up vector, correcting for sign through the wing vector. This solution is successful in finding the bank angle.
  • #1
Artlav
162
1
How can i find out aircraft's bank angle knowing it's local frame in horizon frame?

Specifically, the horizon frame is y for up, z for north, x for east, the plane frame is x for right wing-wards, z for nose-wards, y for up. I know unit vectors of plane frame in horizon frame, and want to find out bank angle from them.

The best attempt yet is:
npr=normalize(z_horizon.x,0,z_horizon.z);
rh=normalize(y_horizon-(npr*scalar(npr,y_horizon)));
bank=sign(x_horizon.y)*atan2(sqrt(sqr(rh.x)+sqr(rh.z)),rh.y);

Basically, trying to subtract the projection of the up onto the forward from the up and compute the angle to horizon plane, but it does not work right if pitched and banked.

Any help?
 
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  • #2
Solved it.
Project the up vector onto the plane whose normal is the nose vector, then compute the angle between the resulting reference vector and the actual up vector, correcting for sign thru wing vector.

ref=normalize((0,1,0)-(z_horizon*scalar((0,1,0),z_horizon)));
sm=scalar(ref,y_horizon);
if abs(sm)>=1 then ac=0; else ac=arccos(sm);
bank=sign(x_horizon.y)*ac;
 

1. What is bank angle from horizon frame?

Bank angle from horizon frame is a measure of the angle between an aircraft's longitudinal axis and the horizon. It is a way to quantify the amount of bank or roll an aircraft is experiencing.

2. How is bank angle from horizon frame calculated?

Bank angle from horizon frame is typically calculated using the aircraft's attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) or an inertial navigation system (INS). These systems use sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes to measure the aircraft's pitch, roll, and yaw angles, which can then be used to determine the bank angle from horizon frame.

3. Why is bank angle from horizon frame important?

Bank angle from horizon frame is important for maintaining the stability and control of an aircraft. It is also a crucial parameter for pilots to monitor during maneuvers, as excessive bank angles can lead to loss of control or structural damage to the aircraft.

4. How does bank angle from horizon frame differ from bank angle from aircraft frame?

Bank angle from aircraft frame refers to the angle between the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and the relative wind. This can be different from the bank angle from horizon frame, which is measured with respect to the actual horizon. In other words, bank angle from horizon frame takes into account the aircraft's pitch and roll, while bank angle from aircraft frame does not.

5. What is the maximum bank angle from horizon frame that an aircraft can safely handle?

The maximum bank angle from horizon frame that an aircraft can safely handle varies depending on the type and design of the aircraft. However, most commercial aircraft are designed to handle bank angles up to 25-30 degrees without experiencing any adverse effects. Pilots are trained to avoid exceeding these limits to ensure the safety and stability of the aircraft.

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