Purpose The purpose of this paper is to increase flight performance of small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using simultaneous UAV and autopilot system design. Design/methodology/approach A small UAV is manufactured in Erciyes University, College of Aviation, Model Aircraft Laboratory. Its wing and tail is able to move forward and backward in the nose-to-tail direction in prescribed interval. Autopilot parameters and assembly position of wing and tail to fuselage are simultaneously designed to maximize flight performance using a stochastic optimization method. Results are obtained are used for simulations. Findings Using simultaneous UAV and autopilot system design idea, flight performance is maximized. Research limitations/implications Permission of Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Turkey is required for testing UAVs in long range. Practical implications Simultaneous design idea is very beneficial for improving UAV flight performance. Originality/value Creating a novel method to improve flight performance of UAV and developing an algorithm performing simultaneous design idea.

Anti-tank surface to surface guided missile systems are considered to be one of the most powerful weapons in the modern war. Due to their effectiveness against either fortifications or tanks in addition to their relative low weight, they are deployed in the field easily. One of the most challenges the engineers face while designing a guided missile is the autopilot design. The autopilot loop or the inner loop of the missile should steer the missile during its spatial flight till hitting the target even it is moving or stationary. A higher maneuver target was hit by the missile, the more reliable autopilot you design. On designing a mature autopilot, a promising mathematical model of the missile should be in hand and mathematical linearized model should be derived. This paper presents a mathematical representation of an anti-tank guided missile the mathematical linearized model as well so that the design of the missile autopilot is presented in the future work.