Digital controllers for VTOL aircraft

Using linear-optimal estimation and control techniques, digital-adaptive control laws have been designed for a tandemrotor helicopter which is equipped for fully automatic flight in terminal area operations. Two distinct discrete-time control laws are designed to interface with velocity-command and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in1976 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control including the 15th Symposium on Adaptive Processes pp. 1009 - 1016
Main Authors Stengel, Robert F., Broussard, John R., Berry, Paul W.
Format Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published IEEE 01.12.1976
Subjects
Aerospace control
Aircraft
Automatic control
Digital control
Helicopters
Logic design
Noise reduction
Pi control
Proportional control
Velocity control
Online AccessGet full text
DOI10.1109/CDC.1976.267873

Cover

More Information
Summary:Using linear-optimal estimation and control techniques, digital-adaptive control laws have been designed for a tandemrotor helicopter which is equipped for fully automatic flight in terminal area operations. Two distinct discrete-time control laws are designed to interface with velocity-command and attitude-command guidance logic, and each incorporates proportional-integral compensation for non-zero-set-point regulation, as well as reduced-order Kalman filters for sensor blending and noise rejection. Adaptation to flight condition is achieved with a novel gain-scheduling method based on correlation and regression analysis. The linear-optimal design approach is found to be a valuable tool in the development of practical multivariable control laws for vehicles which evidence significant coupling and insufficient natural stability.
DOI:10.1109/CDC.1976.267873