Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Aerospace Engineering Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Controls and Control Theory

Air Force Institute of Technology

1994

Flight control

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Aerospace Engineering

Flight Control Design Using Mixed H2/Μ Optimization, Douglas D. Decker Dec 1994

Flight Control Design Using Mixed H2/Μ Optimization, Douglas D. Decker

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the use of the mixed H2-Microns optimal control synthesis method in the design of a flight control system for the lateral-directional axes of the F-16 Variable Stability In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA). The method is designed to minimize the H2 norm (two-norm) for a given value of microns. This should provide adequate noise and disturbance rejection while maintaining robustness against several types of uncertainties in the system. This thesis finds that, for this problem, the two-norm is not an accurate representation of the outputs of interest. When the two-norm is broken up into its constituent parts an …


A Gain Scheduling Optimization Method Using Genetic Algorithms, Robert C. Martin Iv Dec 1994

A Gain Scheduling Optimization Method Using Genetic Algorithms, Robert C. Martin Iv

Theses and Dissertations

Gain scheduling. the traditional method of providing adaptive control to a nonlinear system, has long been an ad hoc design process. Until recently; little theoretical guidance directed this practitioners' art. For this reason a systematic study of this design process and its potential for optimization has never been accomplished. Additionally, the nonlinearities and the large search space involved in gain scheduling also precluded such an optimization study. Traditionally, the gain scheduling process has been some variation of a linear interpolation between discrete design points. By using powerful non-traditional optimization tools such as genetic algorithms there are ways of improving this …


Applications Of ℓ1 And Mixed H2/ℓ1 Optimization, Mark S. Spillman Dec 1994

Applications Of ℓ1 And Mixed H2/ℓ1 Optimization, Mark S. Spillman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the use of ℓ1 and mixed H2/ℓ1 optimization methods to design flight control systems. ℓ1 optimization is used to handle tracking issues in the design of digital compensators. Control deflection and rate limitations, overshoot and undershoot limitations and steady-state error requirements are discussed. Model-matching techniques which produce acceptable tracking results with lower order controllers are also examined. New numerical methods for continuous H2/L1 and discrete H2/ℓ1 optimization are presented. These methods are used to design an aircraft controller in continuous and discrete time and the results are compared.


Direct Reduced Order Mixed H2/H Control For The Short Take-Off And Landing-Maneuver Technology Demonstrator (Stol-Mtd), William C. Reigelsperger Jr. Mar 1994

Direct Reduced Order Mixed H2/H∞ Control For The Short Take-Off And Landing-Maneuver Technology Demonstrator (Stol-Mtd), William C. Reigelsperger Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

One of the conclusions from the STOL/MTD program was the need for a multivariable method of designing controllers of low order. This research investigated that problem by studying reduced order mixed H2/H control theory applied to the STOL Landing configuration which employs both thrust vectoring and the use of a canard. Model matching techniques were used to obtain responses that met handling qualities criteria and reduced pilot workload by decoupling pitch rate and velocity commands. The time responses were found through nonlinear simulation and showed that the full order designs did match the ideal models very well …


A Handling Qualities Investigation Of Conventional, Rate Command- Attitude Hold, And Attitude Command-Attitude Hold Response-Types In The Probe And Drogue Air Refueling Task, Michael J. Taschner Mar 1994

A Handling Qualities Investigation Of Conventional, Rate Command- Attitude Hold, And Attitude Command-Attitude Hold Response-Types In The Probe And Drogue Air Refueling Task, Michael J. Taschner

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation examines the suitability of conventional, rate command/attitude hold (RCAH), and attitude command attitude hold (ACAH) response-types for the probe and drogue air refueling task. Data from a 1974 Calspan handling qualities investigation involving conventional response-types in the probe and drogue air refueling task were analyzed using the Bandwidth and STI Dropback criterions. Flight control laws were developed to achieve twelve superaugmented and two conventional configurations. The NT-33A analog variable stability system was used to simulate a relaxed static stability fighter and the NT-33A programmable digital flight control computer simulated the desired response-types. The handling qualities of the fourteen …


Automation Of Formation Flight Control, Vincent P. Reyna Jan 1994

Automation Of Formation Flight Control, Vincent P. Reyna

Theses and Dissertations

The research contained in this thesis explores the concepts of Automated Formation Flight Control documented in three previous AFIT theses. The generic formation analyzed consists of a Leader and Wingman, with the Wingman referencing its maneuvers off of Leader maneuvers. Specifically, planar formation flight control concerning only heading and velocity changes is considered. Next, the vertical separation constraint is relaxed to allow wing maneuvers outside of the flight plane of the lead in order to minimize the energy expended by the wing in a maneuver. Analysis of the two forms of formation flight control investigated in this thesis reveals the …