Flight Dynamics & Control System Design

Open‑Source Flight‑Dynamics Engines

Core simulators that solve the equations of motion for fixed‑wing and rotorcraft vehicles.

• XFOIL : http://web.mit.edu/drela/Public/web/xfoil/
• JSBSim : https://jsbsim.sourceforge.net/
• FlightGear : https://www.flightgear.org/
• FlightGear YASim : https://wiki.flightgear.org/YASim
• FlightGear LaRCsim : https://wiki.flightgear.org/LaRCsim
• FlightGear UIUC_FDM : https://wiki.flightgear.org/UIUC_FDM
• AirSim : https://github.com/microsoft/AirSim
• Gazebo (PX4 SITL) : https://gazebosim.org/
• SUAVE : https://suave.stanford.edu/
• OpenEaagles (MIXR) : https://www.mixr.dev/

Modeling & CAD Libraries

Libraries and parametric geometry tools for building vehicle models and aerodynamic shapes.

• OpenVSP : http://openvsp.org/
• OpenModelica : https://openmodelica.org/
• Modelon Aircraft Dynamics Library : https://www.modelon.com/library/aircraft-dynamics-library/
• Modelica Standard Library (Flight Dynamics) : https://github.com/modelica/ModelicaStandardLibrary
• SimulationX Flight Dynamics Library : https://www.isaafoundation.org/simx
• JModelica.org : https://jmodelica.org/
• Dymola Flight Dynamics Library : https://www.3ds.com/products-services/catia/products/dymola/
• Dymola : https://www.3ds.com/products-services/catia/products/dymola/
• EcosimPro : https://www.ecosimpro.com/
• FlightLab FLME (Model Editor) : https://www.flightlab.com/flme.html

Autopilot & UAS Control Platforms

Open and closed‑source autopilot stacks and ground‑control software for unmanned vehicles.

• ArduPilot (SITL) : https://ardupilot.org/
• PX4 Autopilot : https://px4.io/
• Paparazzi UAV : https://paparazziuav.org/
• MAVProxy : https://ardupilot.org/mavproxy/
• QGroundControl : https://qgroundcontrol.com/
• Mission Planner : https://ardupilot.org/planner/docs/mission-planner-overview.html
• UgCS : https://www.ugcs.com/
• DroneKit‑Python : https://dronekit.io/
• FlightGoggles : https://github.com/mit-fast/FlightGoggles
• Aeromatic (JSBSim config generator) : https://jsbsim-team.github.io/aeromatic/

Real‑Time & HIL Simulation

Platforms for hardware‑in‑the‑loop and real‑time flight‑dynamics testing.

• Simulink Real‑Time : https://www.mathworks.com/products/simulink-real-time.html
• dSPACE SCALEXIO : https://www.dspace.com/en/products/hw/scaleXio.cfm
• NI VeriStand : https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/software/products/veristand.html
• OPAL‑RT : https://www.opal-rt.com/
• Speedgoat : https://www.speedgoat.com/
• Typhoon HIL : https://www.typhoon-hil.com/

Analysis & Control‑Design Toolboxes

MATLAB/Simulink and other toolboxes for control‑law development, stability analysis, and visualization.

• MATLAB Aerospace Toolbox : https://www.mathworks.com/products/aerospace.html
• Simulink Aerospace Blockset : https://www.mathworks.com/products/aerospace-blockset.html
• Simulink Control Design : https://www.mathworks.com/products/simulink-control-design.html
• Flight Dynamics & Control Toolbox : https://github.com/petrol46/flight-dynamics-control-toolbox
• DIDO (optimal control toolbox) : https://www.elissarglobal.com/dido-optimal-control-software/

Multi‑Domain Systems Simulators

Comprehensive platforms modeling mechanical, hydraulic, thermal, and electrical domains for vehicle dynamics.

• Simcenter Amesim : https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/products/simcenter/systems-simulation/amesim.html
• GT‑SUITE : https://www.gtisoft.com/gt-suite/
• MSC Adams : https://www.mscsoftware.com/product/adams
• Simpack : https://www.simpack.com/
• 20‑sim : https://www.20sim.com/

NASA‑Specific Flight‑Dynamics Modules

Proprietary NASA software components for high‑fidelity and research applications.

• Generic Transport Model (NASA LAR‑17625‑1) : https://software.nasa.gov/software/LAR-17625-1
• High‑fidelity Unmanned Multirotor FDM (NASA LAR‑19479‑1) : https://software.nasa.gov/software/LAR-19479-1
• Automation Framework for Flight Dynamics (NASA GSC‑15618‑1) : https://software.nasa.gov/software/GSC-15618-1
• Nonlinear Aircraft Simulations in MATLAB (NASA LAR‑17463‑1) : https://software.nasa.gov/software/LAR-17463-1
• Java Astrodynamics Toolkit (JAT) : https://jat.sourceforge.net/
• Flight Optimization System (FLOPS) : https://software.nasa.gov/software/LAR-18934-1
• General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) : https://gmatcentral.org/
• SPICE Toolkit (NASA NAIF) : http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/toolkit.html
• HabSim (NASA Lunar Habitat Testbed) : https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20250001608
• ILRO‑VTB (Virtual Test Bed) : https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20030020715

Interfaces & Visualization Tools

Add‑on interfaces and GUIs for flight‑dynamics platforms and data visualization.

• MATLAB–FlightGear Interface : https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/21288-flightgear-matlab-interface
• X‑Plane Connect Toolbox : https://github.com/nasa/XPlaneConnect
• GNC Visualizer (NASA Astrobee) : https://nasa.github.io/astrobee/html/gncvisualizer.html
• FlightLab PilotStation : https://www.flightlab.com/pilotstation.html
• FlightLab Xanalysis Workspace : https://www.flightlab.com/xanalysis.html