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Flight Controller Design for an Autonomous MAV Dissertation Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Technology Program by Gopinadh Sirigineedi 03301012 Under the guidance of Prof. S.P. Bhat Department of Aerospace Engineering Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay JULY 2005

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Page 1: Flight Controller Design for an Autonomous MAV Controller Design for an Autonomous MAV ... Certi ed that this M.Tech Project Report titled as \Flight Controller Design ... y in one

Flight Controller Design for anAutonomous MAV

Dissertation

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the Master of Technology Program

by

Gopinadh Sirigineedi

03301012

Under the guidance of

Prof. S.P. Bhat

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

JULY 2005

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Dissertation Approval Sheet

Dissertation entitled “Flight Controller Design for an Autonomous MAV”,

submitted by Gopinadh Sirigineedi (Roll No. 03301012) is approved for the

degree of Master of Technology.

Guide

Examiners

(Internal)

(External)

Chairman

Date: July, 2005.

i

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Certificate

Certified that this M.Tech Project Report titled as “Flight Controller Design

for an Autonomous MAV”, submitted by Gopinadh Sirigineedi (Roll No.

03301012) is approved by me for submission. Certified further that, to the best

of my knowledge, the report represents work carried out by the student.

Date: 8-7-2005.

Prof. S.P. Bhat

(Project Guide)

ii

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Abstract

The report presents a flight controller designed to enable the Mini Air Vehicle (MAV)

Kadet MkII to navigate autonomously from an initial way-point to a final way-point.

A guidance strategy reported in the literature is adopted. Since the guidance strategy

requires the aircraft to fly in one of three trim states, namely, straight level flight, level

coordinated right circular turn, level coordinated left circular turn, linearized models

are generated for these three trim states. Three controllers, each consisting of a state

feedback controller and a reduced-order observer are designed for each of these lin-

earized aircraft models. Each controller stabilizes respective trim state, and also tracks

altitude commands. The performance of linear controllers is demonstrated by simula-

tions performed with a nonlinear aircraft model. Closed-loop guidance is performed

on the nonlinear aircraft model. The guidance strategy is modified to smoothen the

trajectory of the aircraft by eliminating continuous switching between left and right

turns. Simulations for three dimensional way-point navigation are performed. Sim-

ulations are used to study the effect of closed-loop poles on guidance. The effect of

discrete position and heading updates is simulated.

Keywords: Autonomous, State feedback, Reduced-order observer, Guidance Strategy.

iii

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Contents

Abstract iii

Nomenclature viii

List of Figures x

1 Introduction 1

2 Controller Design for Full Aircraft Dynamics 4

2.1 Linearized Aircraft Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2.2 State Feedback Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2.2.1 Selection of Closed-Loop Poles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.3 Observer Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.4 Control Law Implementation On Nonlinear Aircraft Model . . . . . . . 9

3 Closed-Loop Guidance 15

3.1 Guidance Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

3.2 Closed-Loop Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3.3 Modified Guidance Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

3.4 Guidance Under Discrete Position and Heading Updates . . . . . . . . 22

3.5 Effect of Closed-Loop Poles On Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

4 Conclusion 29

Appendices 29

A Nonlinear Aircraft Equations and Aircraft Data 30

A.1 Nonlinear Aircraft Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

A.2 Aircraft Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

B Linear Controller Design for Level Straight Flight 37

iv

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C Linear Controller Design for Level Coordinated Right Circular Turn 41

D Linear Controller Design for Level Coordinated Left Circular Turn 45

E Simulink Models 49

References 52

v

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Nomenclature

English Symbols

A,B,C State, control and output matrices of the linearized aircraft model

A State matrix of reduced-order observer

Aaa, Aab, Aba, Abb Sub-matrices of the state matrix

Ba, Bb Sub-matrices of the control matrix

B Sub-matrix of control matrix of reduced-order observer

C Output matrix of reduced-order observer

D Direct transmission matrix of reduced-order observer

F Sub-matrix of control matrix of reduced-order observer

g Acceleration due to gravity in metre/sec2

h Perturbation in altitude from trim value in metres

H Altitude at which the aircraft is flying level and trim in metres

hd Desired change in the altitude from trim value in metres

K State feedback gain matrix

Ke Reduced-order observer gain matrix

M Maximum turn rate of the aircraft in radians/sec

n Load factor

p Perturbation in roll rate from trim value in radians/sec

P Cross range error of the aircraft in metres

PT Roll rate of the aircraft at trim state in radians/sec

q Perturbation in pitch rate from trim value in radians/sec

Q Down range error of the aircraft in metres

QT Pitch rate of the aircraft at trim state in radians/sec

r Perturbation in yaw rate from trim value in radians/sec

RT Yaw rate of the aircraft at trim state in radians/sec

u Control vector for the aircraft model

uc Input command to the closed-loop aircraft model

V Velocity of the aircraft

vi

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v Perturbation in true air-speed from trim value in metre/sec

VT True air-speed of the aircraft at trim state in metre/sec

x State vector of the linearized aircraft model

∆x Error between aircraft state vector and desired state vector

x Estimated state vector

xa Measured part of the state vector

xb Unmeasured part of the state vector

xb Estimation of unmeasured part of the state vector

xd Vector of desired aircraft states

Greek Symbols

α Perturbation in angle of attack from trim value in radians

αT Angle of attack of the aircraft at trim state in radians

β Perturbation in side-slip angle from trim value in radians

βT Side-slip angle of the aircraft at trim state in radians

φ Perturbation in bank angle from trim value in radians

φT Bank angle of the aircraft at trim state in radians

θ Perturbations of pitch angle from trim value in radians

θT Pitch angle of the aircraft at trim state in radians

δa Perturbation in aileron deflection from trim value in radians

δaT Deflection of the aileron when the aircraft is flying at trim state in radians

δe Perturbation in elevator deflection from trim value in radians

δeT Deflection in the elevator when the aircraft is flying at trim state in radians

δn Perturbation in propeller speed from trim value in rpm

δnT Propeller speed when the aircraft is flying at trim state in rpm

δr Perturbation in rudder deflection from trim value in radians

δrT Deflection of the rudder when the aircraft is flying at trim state in radians

η Reduced-order observer state vector

ψ Function used in guidance strategy

γ Angle made by the line with x-axes in modified logic

ν Turn rate of the aircraft

λ Heading angle of the aircraft

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Subscripts

c Command

d Desired

f Final destination

T Trim

viii

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List of Figures

1.1 Kadet MkII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2.1 Block diagram of closed-loop aircraft with trim selector . . . . . . . . . 10

2.2 Reduced-order observer based controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

2.3 Response of the aircraft for trim selector commands. . . . . . . . . . . 12

2.4 True air-speed and altitude responses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2.5 Angle-of-attack and sideslip responses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2.6 Response of propeller speed to trim selector commands. . . . . . . . . . 14

2.7 Response of elevator deflection to trim selector commands. . . . . . . . 14

2.8 Response of aileron deflection to selector commands. . . . . . . . . . . 14

2.9 Response of rudder deflection to selector commands. . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.1 Phase portrait under guidance strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

3.2 Schematic diagram of guidance strategy implementation . . . . . . . . 17

3.3 Aircraft path under closed-loop guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

3.4 Phase portrait under modified guidance strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

3.5 Aircraft path under modified guidance strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

3.6 Trim selector commands with original guidance strategy. . . . . . . . . 21

3.7 Trim selector commands with modified guidance strategy. . . . . . . . . 21

3.8 Trajectory of the aircraft for visiting three way-points. . . . . . . . . . 22

3.9 Variation of altitude for visiting three way-points. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

3.10 Trim selector commands as the aircraft visits the way-points. . . . . . . 23

3.11 Response of true air-speed of the aircraft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

3.12 Variation of angle of attack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

3.13 Variation of sideslip angle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

3.14 Variation of propeller speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

3.15 Variation of elevator deflection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

3.16 Variation of aileron deflection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

3.17 Variation of rudder deflection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

ix

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3.18 Guidance strategy implementation with sample and hold block . . . . . 25

3.19 Guidance under discrete updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

3.20 Trajectories of aircraft with faster and slower poles . . . . . . . . . . . 27

3.21 Trim selector commands to the closed-loop aircraft with faster poles. . 28

3.22 Trim selector commands to the closed-loop aircraft with slower poles. . 28

A.1 Variation of coefficient of thrust with advance ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . 34

A.2 Variation of coefficient of power with advance ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . 34

E.1 Simulink model to implement closed-loop guidance . . . . . . . . . . . 50

E.2 Simulink model of the controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

x

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Chapter 1

Introduction

An aircraft flight control system provides the capability to stabilize and control the

aircraft. The evolution of modern aircraft created a need for automatic-pilot control

systems. In addition, the widening performance envelope created a need to augment

the stability of the aircraft dynamics over some parts of the flight envelope. Because

of the large changes in aircraft dynamics, the dynamic mode that is stable and ade-

quately damped in one flight condition may become unstable, or at least inadequately

damped, in another flight condition. These problems are overcome by using feedback

control to modify the aircraft dynamics. The aircraft motion variables are sensed and

used to generate signals that can be fed into the aircraft control actuators, thus mod-

ifying the dynamic behavior. This feedback must be adjusted according to the flight

conditions. The adjustment process is called gain scheduling because, in its simplest

form, it involves only changing the amount of feedback according to the predetermined

schedule.

Sophisticated control configurations are needed to meet the mission requirements

for advanced aircraft. The required vehicle performance during low altitude, low speed

and high angle-of-attack, all-weather, day and night operations must be achieved. One

of the difficulties dealing with flight control are nonlinearities that must be considered.

Lyshevski [1] presents aircraft flight control system design under state and control

bounds. Yang and Kung [2] present the application of nonlinear H∞ state feedback

theory to flight control which solves the aircraft equations without linearization. The

aircraft configuration also impacts control response through variations in centre of

gravity and moment of inertia. Keating, Parchter and Houpis [3] present Quantitative

Feedback Theory (QFT) based robust flight controller for varying flight conditions.

Mini Air Vehicles (MAVs) are miniature airplanes designed to be small, light, and

highly resilient. The purpose of Mini Air Vehicles (MAVs) is to provide inexpensive

1

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and expendable platforms for surveillance and data collection in situations where larger

vehicles are not practical. They can be used for battlefield surveillance or mapping the

extent of chemical spills or viral outbreaks. Other applications include use in search

and rescue operations, traffic coverage and crop or wildlife monitoring [4].

Most of the MAVs are fully human piloted and make use of off-the-shelf radio

control systems. These planes are difficult to fly due to their unconventional designs.

Another limitation of human piloted MAVs besides the range of the radio control

transmitter, is the range of the pilot’s sight. Cameras have been used on MAVs to

extend their usable range; however mapping three-dimensional control inputs from a

two-dimensional video is foreign for most pilots. So, there is an urgent need for an

MAV which can fly autonomously, to extend the operational range and to perform

diversified tasks.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs) are susceptible to battle damages and failures

as there is no pilot on-borad. In such a event, the aerodynamics can change rapidly

and deviate significantly from the model used for control design. To stabilize the air-

craft dynamics and achieve accurate command tracking in presence of significant model

errors, Farrel, Sharma and Polycarpou [5] present a on-line approximation based lon-

gitudinal control that is based on ideas from feedback linearization and back stepping.

Andrievsky and Fradkov [6] present combined adaptive control law with forced sliding

motion and parametric approximation for the attitude control of an unmanned aerial

vehicle.

In this report, we outline the design of flight controller for a rigid MAV to enable

it to fly autonomously. The work done is at its rudimentary stage and assumes gust

free and obstacle free environment.

The aim of the project is to design a flight controller for an MAV to enable the

MAV to navigate autonomously from a initial way-point to a final way-point. Figure 1.1

shows Kadet MkII chosen for present work. The feedback guidance strategy proposed

by Bhat and Kumar [7] achieves perfect guidance under the assumption that true

ground speed and altitude are constant and the turn rate of the MAV is perfectly

tracked. So the controller has to be designed such that the velocity, altitude and turn

rate follow the guidance command. In the first stage of the project a controller for

tracking velocity and altitude commands was designed using the root-locus approach.

The controller obtained demanded unrealistically huge propeller speed and elevator

deflection. In the second stage a controller was designed for the longitudinal dynamics

of the aircraft by combining a pole placement using state feedback with observer. In the

2

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Figure 1.1: Kadet MkII

final stage we have designed the controller for complete aircraft dynamics combining

the pole placement state feedback using reduced-order observer. Closed-loop guidance

is performed with guidance in outer-loop.

In Chapter-2 the linearized aircraft models are developed for three trim states

required for guidance, that is, straight flight, right turn and left turn. We present

a controller that combines state feedback with a reduced-order observer such that

the aircraft maintains trimmed straight or coordinated turning flight at a specified

speed and turn rate and tracks altitude commands. Three controllers are designed for

stabilizing each of the three trim states required for guidance. The state feedback gain

is obtained using the pole placement technique. A reduced-order observer is used to

estimate the unmeasured states. The linear controllers are then used in simulations

with the nonlinear aircraft model and the results are presented.

In Chapter-3 the guidance strategy proposed by Bhat and Kumar is described.

Simulations of closed-loop guidance are performed with guidance block in the outer-

loop. It was found that, due to the stringent demand for straight flight, the guidance

causes the aircraft to continuously switch between right and left turns without flying

straight. Modified guidance strategy is developed, to eliminate this switching behavior.

The effectiveness of the guidance is demonstrated by simulating a three-dimensional

mission involving visiting of three way-points. Guidance under discrete position and

heading updates is simulated. Effect of closed-loop poles on closed-loop guidance is

studied. Simulations results are presented to show the effect of discrete position and

heading updates.

3

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Chapter 2

Controller Design for Full Aircraft

Dynamics

We wish to implement the guidance strategy described in reference [7] on the nonlinear

aircraft model. This guidance strategy achieves perfect guidance under the assumption

that the aircraft flies at a constant speed and altitude and follows turn rate commands

perfectly. Hence, for successful implementation, the guidance strategy requires a con-

troller that keeps the speed and altitude of the aircraft constant and tracks turn rate

commands perfectly. In this chapter we design a controller such that the aircraft main-

tains trimmed straight or coordinated turning flight at a specified speed and turn rate

and tracks constant altitude commands. Three controllers are designed for stabilizing

each of the three trim states required for guidance, that is, straight flight, right turn

and left turn.

Linearized aircraft models are developed for the three trim states required for the

guidance strategy. The controllers, which consist of a state feedback controller and an

observer for estimating unmeasured states, are designed using these linearized aircraft

models. The three controllers are then implemented on a Simulink model of the non-

linear aircraft. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the

controllers.

2.1 Linearized Aircraft Model

A nonlinear aircraft model is developed in MATLAB, using the AeroSim aeronautical

simulation block set. Variations in the density of air with altitude are neglected. The

value of air density is fixed at 1.1117 kg/m3, which is the density of air at an altitude

of 1000 metres [8]. Consequently, the dynamics of the aircraft do not depend on the

4

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altitude of the aircraft. The moment generated by the propeller is also neglected. The

dynamics of engine are not considered. Instead, the propulsion system is assumed

to consist only of a propeller. The control input to the propulsion system is propeller

speed instead of traditionally used throttle setting. Static propeller data is used to find

thrust for a given advance ratio and propeller speed. Thus, the propeller is assumed to

react instantaneously for given input commands. Mass of the aircraft remains constant

throughout the flight. The aerodynamic data and propeller data used in the model is

given in Appendix A. The dynamics of the actuators deflecting the control surfaces are

not considered. So, the control surfaces deflect instantaneously when input command

is given.

The nonlinear model is linearized around a trim condition. Three trim conditions

are considered — a straight level flight at a true air-speed of 17.44 m/s, coordinated

level turning flight at a true air-speed of 17.44 m/s and a bank angle of 10 degrees, and

coordinated level turning flight at a true air-speed of 17.44 m/s and a bank angle of

−10 degrees. A trim routine available in the AeroSim aeronautical simulation blockset

was modified such that it runs on an aircraft model without engine block. This routine

was used to find the control inputs and aircraft states in each of the three trimmed

flight conditions. The values of trim aircraft states and trim control inputs of the

aircraft for the three trim states are given in appendices B, C and D.

The equations of motion for an aircraft when linearized about a trim condition can

be written in linear state variable form as [9, Chap-2]

x = Ax+ Bu, (2.1)

where the state vector

x =[

v β α φ θ p q r h

]T

(2.2)

consists of perturbations v in true air-speed, β in sideslip, α in angle of attack, φ in

bank angle, θ in pitch angle, p in roll rate, q in pitch rate, r in yaw rate and h in altitude

from the trim values VT, βT, αT, φT, θT, PT, QT, RT, H of the respective quantities. The

control vector u = [δn δe δa δr]T in equation (2.1) consists of perturbations δn in the

propeller speed, δe in the elevator deflection, δa in the aileron deflection and δr in the

rudder deflection from the trim propeller speed δnT, trim elevator deflection δeT, trim

aileron deflection δaT and trim rudder deflection δrT, respectively.

Linearized equations about a general trim condition were derived. These were used

along with the trim states and trim inputs generated by the trim routine to generate

5

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linearized aircraft models for each trim state. The equations used to derive linearized

equations are given in Appendix A. The nonlinear aircraft is linearized about each of

the three trim conditions discussed, and three linearized aircraft models are generated.

The A and B matrices of the linearized aircraft models are given in appendices B, C

and D.

2.2 State Feedback Controller

We first design a state feedback controller to stabilize the trim state and track altitude

commands. Since, density variations have been neglected, the inputs required to trim

the aircraft at a given true air-speed and bank angle as well as the corresponding

trim values of the state variables do not depend on the altitude. Specifically, every

vector of the form xd=[0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 hd]T is an equilibrium solution of the linearized

equation (2.1). Hence, the stabilization of the trim state as well as the tracking of the

desired constant altitude hd can be simultaneously achieved by stabilizing the desired

equilibrium xd, so that the closed-loop solutions satisfy limt→∞ x(t)=xd.

Let u, the control vector be given by

u = −Kx + uc, (2.3)

where K ∈ <4×9 is the state feedback gain matrix and uc is the input command. On

substituting (2.3) in (2.1) we get

x = (A− BK)x+ Buc. (2.4)

Denoting, ∆x=x − xd and noting that xd is a constant vector, (2.4) yields

∆x = (A−BK)∆x + (A−BK)xd +Buc. (2.5)

Since Axd=0, (2.5) yields

∆x = (A−BK)∆x +B(uc −Kxd). (2.6)

The error ∆x converges to zero if all the eigenvalues of the matrix A − BK have

negative real parts and uc −Kxd = 0. This gives uc = Kxd, so that

u = −K(x− xd). (2.7)

We next use the pole placement technique to find the gain matrix K such that the

matrix A− BK has its eigenvalues at specified locations.

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2.2.1 Selection of Closed-Loop Poles

The open-loop eigenvalues of the aircraft model linearized about trimmed level flight

are located at −4.22± j7.0651, −0.034± j0.7507, 0, −15.4836, −0.0092 and −0.1377±j2.007. For the aircraft model linearized about level coordinated turn of bank an-

gle 10 degrees the eigenvalues are located at −4.2194 ± j7.0648, −0.0336 ± j0.7574,

0, −15.4806, −0.0113 and −0.1394 ± j2.0062, and for the aircraft model linearized

about level coordinated turn of bank angle −10 degrees the eigenvalues are located at

−4.2194 ± j7.0648, −0.0336 ± j0.7574, 0, −15.4806, −0.0113 and −0.1394 ± j2.0062.

As all the eigenvalues have negative real parts each of the three trim states are stable.

The first two eigenvalues correspond to short-period and phugoid modes, respectively.

The eigenvalue at zero arises because altitude is taken as a state while developing the

aircraft model. The last three eigenvalues correspond to roll, spiral and dutch-roll

modes, respectively.

Flying qualities for level-1 and category-A flight are selected, as flying qualities for

MAVs are not available. The damping ratio of the poles corresponding to the short-

period mode is selected to be between 0.35 and 1.30. The undamped natural frequency

is selected to be between 2.5 rad/sec and 9 rad/sec [10, Chap-3]. Unlike a manned

aircraft, for an MAV the phugoid mode should also be well damped with a damping

ratio around 0.7 [11]. The time constant of the roll mode eigenvalue should be less

than 1 sec. For dutch roll eigenvalue pair, the minimum values of ζ, ζωn and ωn are

given as 0.19, 0.35 and 1 rad/s, respectively [10, Chap-3]. The closed-loop poles, that

is, the eigenvalues of the matrix A−BK are placed at −4± j5, −0.3± j0.2, −0.3, −5,

−0.5± j0.5 and −0.3 for all the three trim conditions. The matrix K which places the

closed-loop poles at these points is found by using the command place in MATLAB.

Choice of poles is made taking into account the settling time of the closed-loop

system and the demands on the control inputs. If the eigenvalues of A−BK are placed

further left, the system response becomes fast, but the demands on the propeller speed

and elevator deflection will be higher than in the case of slower system. So a system

with faster response will make the control inputs reach the saturation limits even for

small commanded increase in the altitude and may cause problems of instability when

used in nonlinear aircraft model.

The state feedback controller is designed for each of the three linearized aircraft

models developed. Three state feedback controllers were designed— one for maintain-

ing the aircraft operate around the straight level flight, one for maintaining the aircraft

operate around the coordinated right turning flight and the other for maintaining the

7

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aircraft operate around the coordinated left turning flight. The controller gain ma-

trix K for aircraft models trimmed for level, 10 degree banked coordinated turn and

−10 degree banked coordinated turn, which places the closed-loop poles at the above

mentioned locations are given in appendices B, C and D, respectively.

2.3 Observer Design

The feedback controller described in the previous section uses all the state variables for

feedback. However, we assume that only true air-speed, pitch rate, roll rate, yaw rate

and altitude are available for feedback. Hence we next consider the design of reduced-

order observer for estimating the unmeasured state variables based on the theory given

in reference [12, Chap-12].

The reduced-order observer generates the estimates of the perturbations β, α, φ, θ

based on the measurements of the perturbations v, p, q and r and the control vector

u. A reduced-order observer is designed for each of the three linearized models. The

dynamics of the aircraft are independent of the altitude, and are hence completely

captured in the evolution of the eight state variables v, β, α, φ, θ, p, q, r. The state

variable h is included only to achieve tracking of the commanded altitude. So the A

matrix of the system used for observer design is the 8× 8 matrix corresponding to the

state variables v, β, α, φ, θ, p, q, r.

Consider the linear aircraft model with 8 state variables

x = Ax +Bu,

y = Cx,(2.8)

where the state vector x=[v β α φ θ p q r]T can be partitioned into two parts, the

measured variables xa=[v p q r]T and the unmeasured variables xb=[β α φ θ]T . The

output matrix C is given by[

I4×4 04×4

]

so that the state variable xa is equal to the

output y. Then the partitioned state and output equations become

xa

xb

=

Aaa Aab

Aba Abb

xa

xb

+

Ba

Bb

u, (2.9)

y =[

I 0

]

xa

xb

. (2.10)

8

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The equations which define the reduced-order observer are [12, Chap-12]

˙η = Aη +[

B F

]

y

u

,

x = Cη + Dy,

(2.11)

where

A = Abb −KeAab,

B = AKe + Aba −KeAaa,

F = Bb −KeBa,

C =

04×4

I4×4

,

D =

I4×4

Ke

.

(2.12)

The state estimate x and the observer state η are given by

x =

xa

xb

, (2.13)

η = xb −Key. (2.14)

The matrix Ke is found by placing the eigenvalues of A at desired locations. As

a general rule the observer poles must be two to five times faster than the controller

poles to make sure the estimation error converges to zero quickly. Such faster decay

of the observer error compared with the desired dynamics makes the controller poles

dominate the system response [12, Chap-12]. The eigenvalues of A are placed at −16,

−15 ± j1 and −17.

The observer along with the state feedback controller stabilizes the aircraft around

the trim state. The matrix Ke for aircraft models trimmed for level, level coordi-

nated right turn and level coordinated left turn are given in appendices B, C and D,

respectively.

2.4 Control Law Implementation On Nonlinear Air-

craft Model

The linear controllers described in Section 2.2 and 2.3 for the three trim states were

used in simulations with the nonlinear aircraft model. Each controller consists of a

9

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SaturationBlock

Controllerxd

YTrimUTrim

YU

Trim selector

Model

linearNon

Commandedtrim

Aircraft

Figure 2.1: Block diagram of closed-loop aircraft with trim selector

state feedback controller and a reduced-order observer. Each controller stabilizes the

aircraft around the respective trim state, for which it is designed. At any given time

only one of the three controllers is used. With the help of the three controllers we can

operate the aircraft in either of the three trim states. Moreover, the aircraft can be

made to switch between any two of the three trim states by switching the corresponding

controller. This is necessary because the aircraft should be able to switch from one

trim state to other trim state for the guidance strategy to be implemented. The block

diagram depicting the selection of controller by the trim selector is shown in Figure

2.1.

The inputs to the controller are perturbations from the trim operating point, as

the linear controller operates on the perturbations in the states. The block diagram in

Figure 2.2 shows the reduced-order observer based controller employed for the nonlinear

aircraft model. Inputs to the observer are perturbations from the trim values. As

shown in Figure 2.2 the inputs to the reduced-order observer are u and y which are

the perturbations in inputs and outputs, respectively, from the trim values UTrim and

YTrim. The nonlinear aircraft model works on the true inputs. So the controller output

u is added to the trim input vector UTrim and passed to the nonlinear aircraft model.

To prevent the control inputs from going out of operating range, a saturation block

has been placed before the aircraft model. The operating speed of propeller is main-

tained between 3,000 rpm and 10,000 rpm. The deflections of elevator, aileron and

rudder are kept between −10 degrees and 10 degrees.

10

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UTrim

SaturationBlock

UTrim

MatrixGain

State feedback

K

YTrim

xd

Reduced−OrderObserver

Air−speed,True

Model

Nonlinear

Altitude

AOA, bank angle Pitch angle&

Side−slip angleEstimates of

u

x

Y

y

angular rates

Aircraft

Figure 2.2: Reduced-order observer based controller

The load factor for 10 degrees bank angle turn is 1.0154. The expression for turn

rate is given by

M =g√n2 − 1

V, (2.15)

where n is load factor and V is the velocity of the aircraft. For a circular turn at a

bank angle of 10 degrees and a true air-speed of 17.44 m/s, the turn rate is −0.0992

rad/s and it takes 63.33 seconds to complete one full circular turn. Figure 2.3 shows

the response of the aircraft for commands from the trim selector. The turn rate that

has to be tracked by the aircraft is shown in dashed lines. At t = 0 the aircraft is

commanded to do a level coordinated turn at a bank angle 10 degrees. At t = 100 sec

it is commanded to fly level and straight. At t = 200 sec is commanded to do a level

coordinated turn at a bank angle −10 degrees. Figure 2.4 shows the responses of true

air-speed and altitude for commands of the trim selector. The maximum variation of

true air-speed from trim value of 17.44 m/s is 0.017 m/s. The maximum variation of

altitude from the trim altitude of 1000 m is 0.11 m. Figure 2.5 shows the responses

of angle of attack and sideslip angle to trim selector commands. Both the angle of

attack and sideslip angle vary rapidly when the aircraft switches from one trim state

to the other. Figure 2.6 shows the response of propeller speed. The propeller speed

falls sharply when the aircraft switches from one trim state to the other and then

11

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0 50 100 150 200 250 300−0.2

−0.15

−0.1

−0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

t (s)

Tur

n ra

te (

rad/

s)

Figure 2.3: Response of the aircraft for trim selector commands.

settles to a constant value. Figure 2.7 shows the response of elevator deflections. The

elevator deflects sharply when the aircraft switches from one trim state to the other.

The deflections are well within the operating range. Figure 2.8 shows the response of

aileron deflections. Initially the aileron deflects away from its final steady value. Figure

2.9 shows the response of rudder deflection to trim selector commands.

12

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0 50 100 150 200 250 30017.438

17.44

17.442

17.444

17.446

17.448

17.45

17.452

17.454

17.456

17.458

t (s)

Tru

e a

ir−

sp

ee

d (

m/s

)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300999.88

999.9

999.92

999.94

999.96

999.98

1000

1000.02

t (s)

Altitude (

m)

Figure 2.4: True air-speed and altitude responses to trim selector commands.

0 50 100 150 200 250 3002.1

2.15

2.2

2.25

2.3

2.35

2.4

2.45

t (s)

Angle

of attack (

deg)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300−1

−0.8

−0.6

−0.4

−0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

t (s)

Sid

e−

slip

an

gle

(d

eg

)

Figure 2.5: Angle of attack and sideslip responses to trim selector commands.

13

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0 50 100 150 200 250 3005900

5920

5940

5960

5980

6000

6020

6040

6060

t (s)

Pro

pelle

r speed (

rpm

)

Figure 2.6: Response of propeller speed

to trim selector commands.

0 50 100 150 200 250 3004

4.2

4.4

4.6

4.8

5

5.2

5.4

5.6

t (s)

Ele

vato

r deflection (

deg)

Figure 2.7: Response of elevator deflec-

tion to trim selector commands.

0 50 100 150 200 250 300−0.2

−0.15

−0.1

−0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

t (s)

Aile

ron

de

fle

ctio

n (

de

g)

Figure 2.8: Response of aileron deflection

to selector commands.

0 50 100 150 200 250 300−0.5

−0.4

−0.3

−0.2

−0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

t (s)

Ru

dd

er

de

fle

ctio

n (

de

g)

Figure 2.9: Response of rudder deflection

to selector commands.

14

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Chapter 3

Closed-Loop Guidance

3.1 Guidance Strategy

Bhat and Kumar [7] present a guidance strategy to steer a MAV from a given initial

position and heading to a specified destination way-point in an obstacle-free environ-

ment. The strategy achieves perfect guidance at constant altitude and speed under

continuous and perfect position and heading updates, and perfect tracking of turn rate

commands for small as well as large inter way-point distances.

Reference [7] considers a MAV flying at a constant altitude and speed in a two-

dimensional plane. A kinematic model for such an aircraft is given by

x = V cos λ,

y = V sin λ,

λ = ν,

(3.1)

where x and y are the position co-ordinates of the aircraft, λ is the heading angle of

the aircraft, ν is the turn rate and V is the speed of the aircraft. If the maximum

permissible load factor of the MAV is n, then the maximum permissible rate at which

the aircraft can turn is given by equation (2.15).

The turn rate constraint |ν| ≤ M leads to a lower bound V/M on the turn radius.

Under the assumption of constant velocity, time-optimal trajectories of (3.1) between

specified initial and final positions and initial headings under the turn rate constraint

|ν| ≤ M consist of arcs of circles of minimum turn radius V/M and straight lines. In

other words, a time-optimal turn rate time history takes the values ±M and 0.

Let ~r and ~rf be the position vectors of the instantaneous location and destination

way-point respectively. The cross range error P and the down range error Q to the

15

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R

R

L

L

Cross range

Down range

Figure 3.1: Phase portrait under guidance strategy

destination are defined as

P = − 1

V(~V × ~D).k, (3.2)

Q =1

V( ~D · ~V ), (3.3)

where ~D = ~rf − ~r is the relative displacement between the instantaneous location and

the destination way-point, ~V is the instantaneous velocity vector of the MAV, and ~k

is a unit vector orthogonal to the plane of motion of the MAV. The magnitudes of

~D and ~V are√P 2 +Q2 and V , respectively. Letting ψ(P,Q) = (|P | − V/M)2 + Q2,

the feedback strategy that steers the MAV from a initial position and heading to a

specified destination way-point along the shortest path is given by

ν(t) = λ(P (t), Q(t)), (3.4)

where

λ(P,Q) = −Msign(P ), ψ(P,Q) ≥ V 2/M2, P 6= 0,

= Msign(P ), ψ(P,Q) < V 2/M2,

= 0, P = 0, Q > 0,

= −M, P = 0, Q < 0.

(3.5)

Figure 3.1 shows the phase portrait of the closed-loop system obtained by applying

the guidance strategy (3.5) to the kinematic equations (3.1). It demonstrates that the

guidance strategy (3.4) - (3.5) steers the vehicle to the destination way-point by driving

cross range and down range to zero in a finite time.

16

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SaturationBlock

Controllerxd

Trim selectorGuidanceLatitudeLongitudeHeading

Model

Nonlinear

UTrimYTrim

YU

Commandedtrim

Aircraft

Figure 3.2: Schematic diagram of guidance strategy implementation

3.2 Closed-Loop Guidance

The guidance strategy described in Section 3.1 is used for guiding the aircraft from the

initial way-point to the final way-point. A schematic diagram of the nonlinear aircraft

model with guidance in the outer-loop is shown in the Figure 3.2. The guidance strategy

given in Section 3.1 is implemented in the guidance block. The guidance block takes

position and heading updates of the aircraft and gives commands to the trim selector

in order to select one of the three trim states described in Section 2.1. The guidance

block then commands the aircraft to either fly straight, turn right, or turn left and

selects the correct inner-loop controller to ensure that the aircraft operation converges

to that trim state. As the distances between the way-points considered by us are small

compared to the radius of earth, x and y co-ordinates of the position of the aircraft

are obtained by multiplying longitude and latitude by the radius of earth, respectively.

The radius of earth is taken as 6371.3 km [13].

Results of simulations performed on closed-loop aircraft with guidance in the outer-

loop are presented. Figure 3.3 shows the four paths followed by the aircraft to reach

each of the way-points (0,200,1000), (0,800,1000) (0,-800,1000) and (1000,0,1000) start-

ing from (0,0,1000) with a initial heading along the x-axes. For inter way-point dis-

tances greater than minimum turn radius given by VT/M=175.84 m, the aircraft first

takes a turn until the heading is aligned with destination way-point. For inter way-

point distances less than the minimum turn radius, the aircraft first moves away from

destination way-point and then turns towards it. The simulation is stopped as soon as

the trajectories reach within 20 m of the destination way-point. The aircraft can not

come very close to the destination way-point because the aircraft takes time to settle

17

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−400 −200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

−800

−600

−400

−200

0

200

400

600

800

X (m)

Y (

m)

Figure 3.3: Aircraft path under closed-loop guidance

down in the trim state while switching between the trim states. The guidance strat-

egy assumes that the guidance commands are obeyed instantaneously, but the aircraft

takes a finite time to switch from one trim state to another. This sluggishness of the

aircraft to implement guidance commands results in the aircraft missing the target by

20 metres.

As shown in Figure 3.3, instead of flying straight to reach the way-point (1000,0,1000),

which is aligned with the initial heading of the aircraft, the aircraft reaches the way-

point by performing a series of right and left turns. This is because of the stringent

demand of P = 0 by the guidance strategy for straight flight. When the aircraft head-

ing is aligned with the destination way-point the guidance block should command the

aircraft to fly straight, but by the time command is issued the aircraft over-shoots and

the heading of the aircraft is no longer aligned with the destination way-point. As the

condition P = 0 is satisfied only at discrete instants, the guidance block commands the

aircraft either to turn right or left. So, the aircraft reaches the destination way-point

by performing a sequence of right or left turns and the path of the aircraft is wavy,

instead of smooth circular turns and straight lines.

3.3 Modified Guidance Strategy

The guidance strategy described in Section 3.1 is modified so that the aircraft reaches

the destination way-point smoothly without continuously switching between right and

18

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R

R

L

L

S

Down range

Cross range

Figure 3.4: Phase portrait under modified guidance strategy

left turns. Conditions for straight flight are relaxed such that the aircraft flies straight

even if the destination way-point is not aligned with the heading of the aircraft. The

guidance strategy is modified such that the aircraft flies straight when the destination

way-point is within a cone of angle 180-2γ containing the current heading. The strategy

is thus given by

ν(t) = λ(P (t), Q(t)), (3.6)

where

λ(P,Q) = −Msign(P ), ψ(P,Q) ≥ V 2/M2, P 6= 0, Q− |P | tanγ < 0,

= Msign(P ), ψ(P,Q) < V 2/M2, Q− |P | tanγ < 0,

= 0, Q− |P | tanγ ≥ 0, Q > 0,

= −M, P = 0, Q < 0.

(3.7)

Figure 3.4 shows the phase portrait of the closed-loop system obtained by apply-

ing the strategy (3.6) to the kinematic equations (3.1). The phase portrait in the

figure demonstrates that the guidance strategy (3.6) - (3.7) steers the vehicle to the

destination way-point.

Simulations are done with different values of γ, and γ = 80 degrees is found to give

better guidance in terms of the termination proximity to the destination way-point.

With γ = 80 the aircraft reaches within 20 m to the destination way-point. The path

followed by the aircraft with this modified guidance strategy is shown in the Figure 3.5

for the same destination way-points considered in Section 3.2. The aircraft flies straight

for a considerable amount of time. The aircraft reaches the way-point (1000,0,0) flying

19

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−400 −200 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

−800

−600

−400

−200

0

200

400

600

800

X (m)

Y (

m)

Figure 3.5: Aircraft path under modified guidance strategy

straight. Even for other way-points the path followed by aircraft is smooth.

Figures 3.6 and 3.7 compare the sequence of trim states commanded by the origi-

nal guidance strategy to reach the destination way-point (0,800,1000) with that com-

manded by the modified guidance strategy. Trim selector command of 1 represents

right turn, 2 represents straight flight and 3 represents left turn. The aircraft with the

original guidance strategy switches between left and right turns and never flies straight,

whereas the aircraft with the modified guidance strategy flies straight switching only

occasionally to right and left turning trim states.

Three dimensional way-point navigation is performed, as the controllers are capable

of tracking altitude commands. Figure 3.8 shows the trajectory followed by the aircraft

for visiting the three way-points (1500,1000,1005), (4000,0,1030) and (1000,-3000,995)

in sequence starting from (0,0,1000) with a initial heading along the x-axes under the

modified guidance strategy. The co-ordinates of the next way-point are loaded as soon

as the aircraft is within 20 m from the current destination way-point. The first way-

point (1500,1000,1005) is reached at t = 104.2 secs, second way-point at t = 262.9 secs

and the final way-point at t = 522.4 secs. The simulation is stopped when the aircraft

reaches within 20 m from the third way-point.

To reach the way-point the aircraft first climbs to the altitude of the way-point,

and then moves at constant altitude. Figure 3.9 shows the altitude variation of the

aircraft. As the three way-points are not in the same plane, the altitude of the aircraft

changes while visiting the way-points.

20

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0 10 20 30 40 50 60

1

2

3

t (s)

Co

mm

an

ds t

o t

rim

se

lecto

r

Figure 3.6: Trim selector commands with

original guidance strategy.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

1

2

3

t (s)

Co

mm

an

ds t

o t

rim

se

lecto

r

Figure 3.7: Trim selector commands with

modified guidance strategy.

Figure 3.10 shows the trim selector commands as the aircraft visits the three way-

points. The commands change rapidly as the aircraft comes close to the way-point.

Figure 3.11 gives true air-speed response of the aircraft. There is sudden variation in

the true air-speed just after each way-point is visited. As soon as the aircraft reaches

a way-point, the aircraft is commanded to change altitude to match the altitude of

the next way-point. So the true air-speed of the aircraft either increases or decreases

depending on whether the aircraft is descending or ascending. Figure 3.12 shows the

variation of angle of attack. The angle of attack momentarily reaches 10.3 degrees when

the aircraft is climbing from an altitude of 1005 metres to 1030 metres. Figure 3.13

shows the variation of sideslip angle. The sideslip angle reaches a maximum of 11.5

degrees. Figure 3.14 shows the variation of engine speed. The engine speed is pushed to

the limits of its operating range. The propeller speed reaches the upper limit of 10,000

rpm when the aircraft is climbing and reaches the lower limit of 3,000 rpm when the

aircraft is descending. Figure 3.15 shows the variation of elevator deflection. The

elevator deflection reaches its upper limit of 10 degrees when the aircraft is descending

and reaches the lower limit of −10 degrees when the aircraft is climbing. Figure 3.16

shows the variation of aileron deflection. The variation in aileron deflection is well

within its operating range. The aileron deflection reaches a maximum of 0.86 degrees

and a minimum of −0.77 degrees. The variation in aileron deflection is so small that

it may be difficult for the actuator to deflect the aileron by such small angle. The

21

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0 1000 2000 3000 4000−3000

−2000−10000

1000

995

1000

1005

1010

1015

1020

1025

1030

x (m) y (m)

z (

m)

Figure 3.8: Trajectory of the aircraft for

visiting three way-points.

0 100 200 300 400 500 600990

995

1000

1005

1010

1015

1020

1025

1030

1035

t (s)

Altitu

de

(m

)

Figure 3.9: Variation of altitude for visit-

ing three way-points.

resolution of the actuator should be high and the mechanical couplings should not

have dead zones for the aileron to be deflected to such small angle. Figure 3.17 shows

the variation in rudder deflection as the aircraft visits the way-points. The rudder

deflection reaches a maximum of 4.45 degrees and a minimum of −3.85 degrees.

3.4 Guidance Under Discrete Position and Heading

Updates

One of the main assumptions for the guidance strategy is that the position and heading

updates are continuously available. This assumption is not valid in practice. In order

to sense the position and heading, we anticipate use of the Global Positioning System

(GPS) which receives updates typically at an update frequency of 1Hz. In this case,

only discrete position and heading updates are available. In this section we present the

effect of discrete updates on the guidance strategy.

In between the updates, no data is available to the guidance. To simplify the

situation, we assume that the guidance command in between the updates is based only

on the last updates of position and heading. To study the effect of discrete position

and heading updates on the guidance strategy the GPS is simulated by a sample and

hold block with a sampling period of 1 sec. The closed-loop guidance with sample and

hold block is shown in Figure 3.18.

22

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0 100 200 300 400 500 600

1

2

3

t (s)

Trim

se

lecto

r co

mm

an

ds

Figure 3.10: Trim selector commands as

the aircraft visits the way-points.

0 100 200 300 400 500 60015

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

t (s)

Tru

e a

ir−

sp

ee

d (

m/s

)

Figure 3.11: Response of true air-speed of

the aircraft.

0 100 200 300 400 500 600−2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

t (s)

An

gle

of a

tta

ck (

de

g)

Figure 3.12: Variation of angle of attack.

0 100 200 300 400 500 600−10

−5

0

5

10

15

t (s)

Sid

e s

lip a

ng

le (

de

g)

Figure 3.13: Variation of sideslip angle.

23

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0 100 200 300 400 500 6002000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

11000

t (s)

Pro

pelle

r speed (

rpm

)

Figure 3.14: Variation of propeller speed.

0 100 200 300 400 500 600−10

−8

−6

−4

−2

0

2

4

6

8

10

t (s)

Ele

va

tor

de

fle

ctio

n (

de

g)

Figure 3.15: Variation of elevator deflec-

tion.

0 100 200 300 400 500 600−0.8

−0.6

−0.4

−0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

t (s)

Aile

ron

de

fle

ctio

n (

de

g)

Figure 3.16: Variation of aileron deflec-

tion.

0 100 200 300 400 500 600−4

−3

−2

−1

0

1

2

3

4

5

t (s)

Ru

dd

er

de

fle

ctio

n (

de

g)

Figure 3.17: Variation of rudder deflec-

tion.

24

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SaturationBlock

Controllerxd

Hold

Guidance

Model

linearNon

UTrim YTrim

YU

LatitudeLongitudeHeadingCommanded

Trim selector

trim

Sample &

Aircraft

Figure 3.18: Schematic diagram of guidance strategy implementation with sample and

hold block

Figure 3.19 presents two trajectories — the one in red generated under discrete po-

sition and heading updates, and the one in blue generated under continuous position

and heading updates, the modified guidance strategy being used in both the cases.

The aircraft starts at (0,0,1000) with a initial heading along the x-axes and reaches

the destination way-point (600,500,1000). The simulation is stopped when the aircraft

is within 20 m from the destination way-point. The crosses on the trajectory represent

the locations where the updates are made available from the GPS block. While the

closed-loop aircraft follows straight path when position and heading updates are con-

tinuously available, the aircraft deviates from the straight path under discrete position

and heading updates. This is expected, because the guidance strategy demands contin-

uous position and heading updates for perfect guidance. As the position and heading

are updated at a interval of 1 second, the aircraft deviates from the path under discrete

updates.

3.5 Effect of Closed-Loop Poles On Guidance

The guidance strategy assumes that the guidance commands are implemented instan-

taneously, but the closed-loop aircraft takes a nonzero amount of time to settle in a

trim state after switching from either of the other two trim states. Clearly faster set-

tling yields better guidance. To study the improvement provided by faster settling,

25

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−100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700−100

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

x (m)

y (

m)

Figure 3.19: Guidance under discrete updates

three controllers are designed to place the closed-loop poles for each of the three linear

models at −4 ± j5, −1 ± j1, −1, −5, −1.5 ± j1 and −1 by selecting a suitable K

matrix. Now, the closed-loop aircraft will be able to react quickly to the guidance

commands, as the poles are placed further left in the complex plane than those given

in subsection 2.2.1. The effect of closed-loop poles on guidance is studied by comparing

the trajectory and trim selector commands for the closed-loop aircraft with faster poles

with those of the aircraft with slower poles.

Figure 3.20 shows the trajectory of the closed-loop aircraft with faster poles in red,

and that with slower poles in blue. The original guidance strategy is implemented and

the aircraft starts at (0,0,1000) with a initial heading along the x-axes in both the

cases. The closed-loop aircraft with faster poles goes as close as 2 m to the destination

way-point (-300,800,1000) where as the closed-loop aircraft with slower poles can go

only up to 20 m to the destination way-point. Because of the small settling times

of its states, the closed-loop aircraft with faster poles is quick to settle to one of the

three trim states and achieves better guidance. This is evident from red plot which

shows that the the closed-loop aircraft with faster poles reaches the way-point along

a straight line path. The trajectory is smooth even if the original guidance strategy

is used, because the aircraft is quick enough to respond to guidance commands. So,

better guidance can be achieved with original guidance strategy, if the aircraft settles

faster in the trim state commanded.

Figure 3.21 shows the trim selector commands of the closed-loop aircraft with faster

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−500 −400 −300 −200 −100 0 100 200 300 400

−100

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

x (m)

y (

m)

Figure 3.20: Trajectories of aircraft with faster and slower poles

poles and Figure 3.22 shows the trim selector commands of the closed-loop aircraft

with slower poles. The closed-loop aircraft with faster poles switches between the trim

states more frequently than the closed-loop aircraft with slower poles. So, more energy

is expended to deflect the control surfaces. The closed-loop aircraft with faster poles

reaches the destination way-point in 62.96 secs, where as the closed-loop aircraft with

slower poles takes 66.84 secs. So, the closed-loop aircraft with slower poles has to fly

for longer time as it takes longer path to reach to the way-point.

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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

1

2

3

t (s)

Trim

se

lecto

r co

mm

an

ds

Figure 3.21: Trim selector commands to

the closed-loop aircraft with faster poles.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

1

2

3

t (s)

Trim

se

lecto

r co

mm

an

ds

Figure 3.22: Trim selector commands to

the closed-loop aircraft with slower poles.

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Chapter 4

Conclusion

A controller combining state feedback and observer is designed for nonlinear aircraft

model of MAV, Kadet Mk-II, such that the aircraft maintains trimmed straight or co-

ordinated turning flight at a true air-speed of 17.44 m/s and tracks altitude commands.

Closed-loop guidance is performed to steer the aircraft from the initial way-point to

within 20 m of the destination way-point when the minimum turn radius is 175.84

m. The propeller speed and control surface deflections are well with in the operating

range, when the aircraft is visiting way-points in a plane.

The guidance strategy is modified to smoothen the trajectory of the aircraft by

eliminating continuous switching between right and left turns. Simulation of three-

dimensional way-point navigation is performed. When the aircraft visits way-points

at different altitudes in three-dimensional space, the propeller speed and elevator de-

flection are pushed to the limits of operating range. Altitude commands of 35 metres

are tracked simultaneously following the guidance commands. The aircraft with faster

closed-loop poles performs better guidance reaching as close as 2 metres to the desti-

nation way-point. Under discrete position and heading updates the aircraft deviates

from straight line path.

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Appendix A

Nonlinear Aircraft Equations and

Aircraft Data

The wind axes force equations and body axes moment equations are used for generating

linearized aircraft models.

A.1 Nonlinear Aircraft Equations

The wind axes force equation in vector form is [9, Chap-2]

FW

m= VW + ΩRVW + ωW × VW − TWBTBIg (A.1)

where m is the mass of the aircraft, FW is the force vector expressed in wind axes,

ωW is the angular velocity vector expressed in wind axes, TWB is the transformation

matrix from body to wind axes, TBI transformation matrix from inertial to body axes

and g is the gravitational vector expressed in inertial frame.

ΩR =

0 −β −α cos β

β 0 α sin β

α cos β −α sin β 0

TWB =

cosα cos β sin β sinα cos β

− cosα sin β cos β − sinα sin β

− sinα 0 cosα

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TBI =

cos θ cosψ cos θ sinψ − sin θ

− cosφ sinψ + sinφ sin θ cosψ cosφ cosψ + sinφ sin θ sinψ sinφ cos θ

sinφ sinψ + cosφ sin θ cosψ − sin φ cosψ + cos φ sin θ sinψ cos φ cos θ

g =

0

0

9.81

The force vector expressed in wind axes FW in (A.1) can be replaced by

FW = FWA+ FWT

= FWA+ TWBFBT

(A.2)

where FWA=

−DY

−L

is the aerodynamic force vector expressed in wind axes, FWT

is the thrust vector expressed in wind axes, FBT=

FT

0

0

thrust vector expressed in

body axes. The angular velocity vector ωW expressed in wind axes can be replaced

by TWBωB. FT is the thrust force generated by the propeller. It is assumed that the

thrust vector passes along the body x-axes. After the two replacements the three force

equations reduce to

mV = −D + FT cosα cos β +mg1,

mβV = Y − FT cosα sin β −mV (−P sinα +R cosα) +mg2,

mαV cos β = −L− FT sinα +mV (−P cosα sin β +Q cos β −R sinα sin β) +mg3,

(A.3)

where

g1 = g(− cosα cos β sin θ + sin β sinφ cos θ + sinα cos β cosφ cos θ),

g2 = g(cosα sin β sin θ + cos β sinφ cos θ − sinα sin β cosφ cos θ),

g3 = g(sinα sin θ + cosα cos θ cosφ).

g=9.81 m/s2 is the acceleration due to gravity. V is the true air-speed, while P,Q,R

are the body axes roll, pitch and yaw rates, respectively.

The body axes moment equation in vector form is

TB = JωB + ωB × JωB (A.4)

where TB the moment vector expressed in body axes and J is the moment of inertia

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matrix given by

J =

Jx 0 −Jxz

0 Jy 0

−Jxz 0 Jz

.

The three moment equations are

L = JxP − JxzR +Q(−JxzP + JzR) − JyQR,

M = JyQ+R(JxP − JxzR) − P (−JxzP + JzR),

N = −JxzP + JzR + JyPQ−Q(JxP − JxzR).

(A.5)

L,M,N are the body axes rolling, pitching and yawing moments, respectively.

The rotational kinematic equations are

φ = P +Q tan θ sinφ+R tan θ cosφ,

θ = Q cosφ− R sin φ,

ψ = Q sinφ sec θ +R cos φ sec θ.

(A.6)

The altitude equation is obtained by transforming the wind axes velocity vector

into inertial frame. The velocity vector[

Xi Yi −H]T

in inertial frame is given by

Xi

Yi

−H

= T TBIT

TWB

V

0

0

. (A.7)

Expanding (A.7), the equation for −H is given by

− H = V (− sin θ cosα cos β + sin φ cos θ sin β + cos φ cos θ sinα cos β). (A.8)

The nine nonlinear aircraft equations (A.3), (A.5), (A.6) and (A.8) are linearized.

The equation for ψ is not considered because ψ is not a state in the aircraft model.

Solving the implicit state equation f(X,X, U) = 0 with the nine nonlinear equations

at equilibrium point (Xe, Ue), we obtain linearized equations of motion, which can be

expressed in linear state variable form as

Ex = Ax +Bu, (A.9)

where x and u are perturbations from the equilibrium values of the state and control

vectors. The state vector x is given by

x =[

v β α φ θ p q r h

]T

(A.10)

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and the control vector u is given by

u =[

δn δe δa δr

]T

. (A.11)

The coefficient matrices

E = −

∆Xf1

...

∆Xf9

X = Xe

U = Ue

, A = −

∆Xf1

...

∆Xf9

X = Xe

U = Ue

and B = −

∆Uf1

...

∆Uf9

X = Xe

U = Ue

.

(A.12)

are calculated at the equilibrium point (Xe, Ue).

A.2 Aircraft Data

The aircraft data for Kadet Mk-II is listed below

Moment reference point =

0.056

0

0

m

Mean Aerodynamic Chord c = 0.29 m

Wing span b = 1.7 m

Wing area S = 0.493 m2

Mass of the aircraft = 3.7 kg

Location of center of gravity =

0

0

0

m

Moment and products of inertia

Jx = 0.22584 kgm2

Jy = 0.80374 kgm2

Jz = 1.00505 kgm2

Jxz = 0.0491527 kgm2

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CT

J 0.8

0.1

Figure A.1: Variation of coefficient of

thrust with advance ratio.

CP

0.1

0.45 0.8J

Figure A.2: Variation of coefficient of

power with advance ratio.

Propeller data

Diameter of propeller D = 0.28 m

Advance ratio J = 60V/(δnD)

Coefficient of thrust CT = 0.1 − J/8

Coefficient of power CP = 0.1, J < 0.45

= 8/35 − 2J/7, 0.45 < J < 0.8

Propeller Thrust FT = ρδn2D4CT/3600 N

Propeller Moment LT = −ρδn2D5CP/7200π N − m

Lift coefficient

CL = CL0+ CLα

α + CLδfδf + CLδe

δe + c2V

(CLαα + CLq

q) + CLMM

Lift derivatives

CL0= 0.2

CLα= 4.8116

CLδf= 0

CLδe= 0.51695

CLα= 0

CLq= 10.0727

CLM= 0

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Drag coefficient

CD = CDmin+

(CL−CLminD)2

πeAR+ CDδf

δf + CDδeδe+ CDδa

δa + CDδrδr + CDM

M

Drag derivatives

CDmin= 0.015

CL at minimum drag CLminD= 0.2

CDδf= 0

CDδe= 0

CDδa= 0

CDδr= 0

CDM= 0

Side force coefficient

CY = CYββ + CYδa

δa + CYδrδr + b

2V(CYp

p+ CYrr)

Side force derivatives

CYβ= −0.06695

CYδa= −0.00933

CYδr= −0.11866

CYp= 0.029337

CYr= −0.072043

Pitching moment coefficient

Cm = Cm0+ Cmα

α + Cmδfδf + Cmδe

δe + c2V

(Cmαα + Cmq

q) + CmM.M

Pitch moment derivatives

Cm0= 0.135

Cmα= −2.95

Cmδf= 0

Cmδe= −1.3104

Cmα= 0

Cmq= −10.4977

CmM= 0

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Rolling moment coefficient

Cl = Clββ + Clδaδa + Clδr

δr + b2V

(Clpp+ Clrr)

Roll moment derivatives

Clβ = −0.0281

Clδa= 0.2945

Clδr= 0.00204

Clp = −0.49926

Clr = 0.0083

Yawing moment coefficient

Cn = Cnββ + Cnδa

δa + Cnδrδr + b

2V(Cnp

+ Cnr)

Yaw moment derivatives

Cnβ= 0.0265

Cnδa= 0.01165

Cnδr= −0.05734

Cnp= −0.01075

Cnr= −0.03044

Aerodynamic forces and moments

D = 12ρV 2SCD

Y = 12ρV 2SCY

L = 12ρV 2SCL

LMR = 12ρV 2SbCl

MMR = 12ρV 2ScCm

NMR = 12ρV 2SbCn

LMR, MMR and NMR are rolling, pitching and yawing moments about the moment

reference point, respectively. The moments about the centre of gravity L, M and N

are obtained as follows

L

M

N

=

LMR

MMR

NMR

+

0.056

0

0

× TBW

−DY

−L

.

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Appendix B

Linear Controller Design for Level

Straight Flight

The trim values of the aircraft states for steady straight level flight of the aircraft Kadet

MkII flying with a velocity of VT =17.44 m/s at an altitude of 1000 metres where the

density of air ρ is 1.1117 kg/m3 are

VT = 17.44 m/sec,

βT = 0 radians,

αT = 0.04066 radians,

φT = 0 radians,

θT = 0.04066 radians,

PT = 0 radians/sec,

QT = 0 radians/sec,

RT = 0 radians/sec,

H = 1000 metres.

The control inputs which enable the aircraft to fly in this trimmed condition are

δnT = 6011.1858 rpm,

δeT = 0.0756 radians,

δaT = 0 radians,

δrT = 0 radians.

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For these aircraft states and control inputs the matrices A and B of the linearized

aircraft model (2.1) are given by

A =

−0.1304 0 4.1078 0 −9.81 0 0 0 0

0 −0.1101 0 0.562 0 0.0425 0 −1.0037 0

−0.0642 0 −6.2386 0 0 0 0.8918 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0407 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

0 −17.0851 0 0 0 −15.4428 0 0.2069 0

0 0 −60.7325 0 0 −2.1389 0 0

0 2.5035 0 0 0 −0.899 0 −0.2153 0

0 0 −17.44 0 17.44 0 0 0 0

,

B =

0.0226 0 0 0

0 0 −0.0121 −0.1533

−0.0001 −0.6677 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 187.1101 −0.6059

0 −36.4084 0 0

0 0 10.7534 −8.6645

0 0 0 0

.

The state feedback gain matrix required to place the eigenvalues of the closed-loop

system at −4 ± j5, −0.3 ± j0.2, −0.3, −5, −0.5 ± j0.5 and −0.3 is given by

K =

8.7696 −0.0634 145.6218 −0.1451 −294.8725 −0.28 4.8324 0.1878 2.2645

−0.0138 0 1.7131 0 −1.2192 0 −0.166 0 −0.0187

0 −0.0926 0 0.0023 0 −0.0779 0 −0.0003 0

0.0002 −0.3879 0 0.0303 0.0003 0.0184 0 −0.0411 0

.

The sub-matrices of the A and B matrices, used in (2.9)-(2.12) for design of reduced-

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order observer are given by

Aaa =

−0.1304 0 0 0

0 −15.4428 0 0.2069

0 0 −2.1389 0

0 −0.809 0 −0.2153

,

Aab =

0 4.1078 0 −9.81

−17.0851 0 0 0

0 −60.7325 0 0

2.5035 0 0 0

,

Aba =

0 0.0425 0 −1.0037

−0.0642 0 0.8918 0

0 1 0 0.0407

0 0 1 0

,

Abb =

−0.1101 0 0.562 0

0 −6.2386 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

,

Ba =

0.0226 0 0 0

0 0 187.1101 −0.6059

0 −36.4084 0 0

0 0 10.7534 −8.6645

,

Bb =

0 0 −0.0121 −0.1533

−0.0001 −0.6677 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

.

The observer gain matrixKe is selected such that the observer poles, that is, eigenvalues

of A are located at −16, −15 ± j1 and −17. The observer gain matrix Ke is given as

Ke =

0 −1.7127 0 0.251

0 0 −0.1607 0

0 −23.041 0 3.3762

−1.7329 0 −0.1172 0

.

The matrix Ke is found using command place in MATLAB.

The matrices A, B, F , C and D which define the reduced-order observer in (2.11)

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are given by

A =

−30 0 0.562 0

0 −16 0 0

−402.1102 0 0 0

0 0 0 −17

,

B =

0 12.2278 0 −6.2266

−0.0642 0 3.1197 0

0 336.6067 0 −95.3788

29.2338 0 2.7419 0

,

F =

0 0 317.8 1

0 −6.5 0 0

0 0 4274.9 15.3

0 −4.3 0 0

,

C =

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0

0 0 0 1

,

D =

1 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0

0 0 0 1

0 −1.7127 0 0.251

0 0 −0.1607 0

0 −23.041 0 3.3762

−1.7329 0 −0.1172 0

.

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Appendix C

Linear Controller Design for Level

Coordinated Right Circular Turn

The trim values of the aircraft states for level coordinated right circular turn at a bank

angle of 10 degrees of the aircraft Kadet MkII flying with a true air-speed of VT =17.44

m/s at an altitude of 1000 metres where the density of air ρ is 1.1117 kg/m3 are

VT = 17.44 m/sec,

βT = 0 radians,

αT = 0.04212 radians,

φT = 0.1745 radians,

θT = 0.04148 radians,

PT = −0.004106 radians/sec,

QT = 0.01718 radians/sec,

RT = 0.09746 radians/sec,

H = 1000 metres.

The control inputs which enable the aircraft to fly in this trimmed condition are

δnT = 6022.646 rpm,

δeT = 0.072167 radians,

δaT = −0.000447 radians,

δrT = −0.002601 radians.

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For these aircraft states and control inputs the matrices A and B of the linearized

aircraft model (2.1) are given by

A =

−0.1305 1.7020 3.8706 −0.0717 −9.8097 0 0 0 0

−0.0056 −0.1104 0.0082 0.5535 −0.0041 0.044 0 −1.0036 0

−0.0642 0 −6.2389 −0.0975 0.0007 0 0.8918 0 0

0 0 0 0 0.0991 1 0.0072 0.0409 0

0 0 0 −0.099 0 0 0.9848 −0.1736 0

−0.0048 −17.0851 0 0 0 −15.4412 −0.0892 0.1913 0

0.0026 0 −60.7365 0 0 0.095 −2.1389 0.0079 0

0.001 2.5035 0 0 0 −0.8188 −0.0068 −0.217 0

0 −3.0258 −17.1755 0.1274 17.4395 0 0 0 0

,

B =

0.0227 0 0 0

0 0 −0.0121 −0.1533

−0.0001 −0.6677 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 187.1101 −0.6059

0 −36.4084 0 0

0 0 10.7534 −8.6645

0 0 0 0

.

The state feedback gain matrix required to place the eigenvalues of the closed-loop

system at −4 ± j5, −0.3 ± j0.2, −0.3, −5, −0.5 ± j0.5 and −0.3 is given by

K =

8.7612 51.5647 135.2113 −3.9086 −290.0693 2.3402 4.9131 −0.949 2.3207

−0.0143 0.2019 1.7134 0.0542 −1.2373 0.0059 −0.1659 0.0012 −0.019

0 −0.0932 −0.0001 0.0024 0.004 −0.0778 −0.0008 −0.0005 0.0001

−0.0009 −0.3947 −0.0053 0.0294 0.0411 0.0186 −0.0007 −0.0408 0.0006

.

The sub-matrices of the A and B matrices, used in (2.9)-(2.12) for design of reduced-

order observer are given by

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Aaa =

−0.1305 0 0 0

−0.0048 −15.4412 −0.0892 0.1913

0.0026 0.095 −2.1389 0.0079

0.001 −0.8188 −0.0068 −0.217

,

Aab =

1.702 3.8706 −0.0717 −9.8097

−17.0851 0 0 0

0 −60.7365 0 0

2.5035 0 0 0

,

Aba =

−0.0056 0.044 0 −1.0036

−0.0642 0 0.8918 0

0 1 0.0072 0.0409

0 0 0.9848 −0.1736

,

Abb =

−0.1104 0.0082 0.5535 −0.0041

0 −6.2389 −0.0975 0.0007

0 0 0 0.0991

0 0 −0.099 0

,

Ba =

0.0227 0 0 0

0 0 187.1101 −0.6059

0 −36.4084 0 0

0 0 10.7534 −8.6645

,

Bb =

0 0 −0.0121 −0.1533

−0.0001 −0.6677 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

.

The observer gain matrixKe is selected such that the observer poles, that is, eigenvalues

of A are located at −16, −15 ± j1 and −17. The observer gain matrix Ke is given as

Ke =

0.1095 −1.7599 0.0001 0.2579

−0.0138 0.145 −0.1585 −0.0212

4.268 −24.0722 0.4814 3.5273

−1.6802 0.1661 −0.1069 −0.0243

.

The matrix Ke is found using command place in MATLAB.

The matrices A, B, F , C and D which define the reduced-order observer in (2.11)

are given by

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A =

−31.0107 −0.4073 0.5613 1.0698

2.5536 −15.8132 −0.0985 −0.1342

−427.3718 12.7172 0.3059 41.9675

5.7576 0.0127 −0.2194 −16.482

,

B =

−2.7907 14.2625 0.0616 −6.6456

0.2373 −2.2018 3.0395 0.6192

−115.728 385.728 −7.4989 −105.0173

27.168 −5.0328 2.4254 0.9019

,

F =

0 0 326.5 1

0 −6.4 −26.9 −0.1

−0.1 17.5 4466.2 16

0 −3.9 −30.8 −0.1

,

C =

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0

0 0 0 1

,

D =

1 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0

0 0 0 1

0.1095 −1.7599 0.0001 0.2579

−0.0138 0.145 −0.1585 −0.0212

4.268 −24.0722 0.4814 3.5273

−1.6802 0.1661 −0.1069 −0.0243

.

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Appendix D

Linear Controller Design for Level

Coordinated Left Circular Turn

The trim values of the aircraft states for level coordinated circular turn at a bank angle

-10 degrees of the aircraft Kadet MkII flying with a true air-speed of VT =17.44 m/s at

an altitude of 1000 metres where the density of air ρ is 1.1117 kg/m3 are

VT = 17.44 m/sec,

βT = 0 radians,

αT = 0.04212 radians,

φT = −0.1745 radians,

θT = 0.04148 radians,

PT = 0.004106 radians/sec,

QT = 0.01718 radians/sec,

RT = −0.09746 radians/sec,

H = 1000 metres.

The control inputs which enable the aircraft to fly in this trimmed condition are

δnT = 6022.646 rpm,

δeT = 0.072167 radians,

δaT = 0.000447 radians,

δrT = 0.002601 radians.

45

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For trim inputs and state variables given in equation (D) the matrices A and B of the

equation (2.1) are given by

A =

−0.1305 −1.7020 3.8706 0.0717 −9.8097 0 0 0 0

0.0056 −0.1104 −0.0082 0.5535 0.0041 0.044 0 −1.0036 0

−0.0642 0 −6.2389 0.0975 0.0007 0 0.8918 0 0

0 0 0 0 −0.0991 1 −0.0072 0.0409 0

0 0 0 0.099 0 0 0.9848 0.1736 0

0.0048 −17.0851 0 0 0 −15.4412 0.0892 0.1913 0

0.0026 0 −60.7365 0 0 −0.095 −2.1389 −0.0079 0

−0.001 2.5035 0 0 0 −0.8188 0.0068 −0.217 0

0 3.0258 −17.1755 −0.1274 17.4395 0 0 0 0

,

B =

0.0227 0 0 0

0 0 −0.0121 −0.1533

−0.0001 −0.6677 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 187.1101 −0.6059

0 −36.4084 0 0

0 0 10.7534 −8.6645

0 0 0 0

.

The state feedback gain matrix required to place the eigenvalues of the closed-loop

system at −4 ± j5, −0.3 ± j0.2, −0.3, −5, −0.5 ± j0.5 and −0.3 is given by

K =

8.7612 −51.6086 135.2124 3.8087 −290.1035 −2.478 4.9098 1.125 2.3202

−0.0143 −0.2019 1.7134 −0.0542 −1.2373 −0.0059 −0.1659 −0.0012 −0.019

0 −0.0932 0.0001 0.0024 −0.004 −0.0778 0.0008 −0.0005 −0.0001

0.0011 −0.3947 0.0054 0.0294 −0.0413 0.0185 0.0007 −0.0408 −0.0006

.

The sub-matrices of the A and B matrices, used in (2.9)-(2.12) for design of reduced-

order observer are given by

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Aaa =

−0.1305 0 0 0

0.0048 −15.4412 0.0892 0.1913

0.0026 −0.095 −2.1389 −0.0079

−0.001 −0.8188 0.0068 −0.217

,

Aab =

−1.702 3.8706 0.0717 −9.8097

−17.0851 0 0 0

0 −60.7365 0 0

2.5035 0 0 0

,

Aba =

0.0056 0.044 0 −1.0036

−0.0642 0 0.8918 0

0 1 −0.0072 0.0409

0 0 0.9848 0.1736

,

Abb =

−0.1104 −0.0082 0.5535 0.0041

0 −6.2389 0.0975 0.0007

0 0 0 −0.0991

0 0 0.099 0

,

Ba =

0.0227 0 0 0

0 0 187.1101 −0.6059

0 −36.4084 0 0

0 0 10.7534 −8.6645

,

Bb =

0 0 −0.0121 −0.1533

−0.0001 −0.6677 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

.

The observer gain matrix Ke is selected such that the observer poles, that is, eigen-

values of A are located at −16, −15 ± j1 and −17. The observer gain matrix Ke is

given as

Ke =

−0.1095 −1.7599 −0.0001 0.2579

−0.0138 −0.145 −0.1585 0.0212

−4.268 −24.0722 −0.4814 3.5273

−1.6802 −0.1661 −0.1069 0.0243

.

The matrix Ke is found using command place in MATLAB.

The matrices A, B, F , C and D which define the reduced-order observer in (2.11)

47

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are given by

A =

−31.0107 0.4073 0.5613 −1.0698

−2.5536 −15.8132 0.0985 −0.1342

−427.3718 −12.7172 0.3059 −41.9675

−5.7576 0.0127 0.2194 −16.482

,

B =

2.7907 14.2625 −0.0616 −6.6456

0.2373 2.2018 3.0395 −0.6192

115.728 385.728 7.4989 −105.0173

27.168 5.0328 2.4254 −0.9019

,

F =

0 0 326.5 1

0 −6.4 26.9 0.1

0.1 −17.5 4466.2 16

0 −3.9 30.8 0.1

,

C =

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0

0 0 0 1

,

D =

1 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0

0 0 0 1

−0.1095 −1.7599 −0.0001 0.2579

−0.0138 −0.145 −0.1585 0.0212

−4.268 −24.0722 −0.4814 3.5273

−1.6802 −0.1661 −0.1069 0.0243

.

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Appendix E

Simulink Models

The simulink model used to simulate closed-loop guidance is shown in Figure (E.1).

Multiport switch is used as trim selector, which selects one of the three controllers

based on the guidance command. Desired change in altitude should be multiplied by[

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

]T

so that it represents desired state vector.

Figure (E.2) shows the implementation of controller designed for stabilizing coor-

dinated right turning flight. Altitude does not enter the reduced-observer because it

is not used to estimate other state variables. Inputs to the reduced-order observer are

perturbations from trim operating point.

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flap

elevator

aileron

rudder

True air−speed

Angular Rates

Altitude

Guidance Command

Controller to stabilize coordinated left turn

rpsTrim Selector

0.01348

SideslipSaturation

block

0

Reset

R2D

R2D

0.0409

Pitch angle

0

Mix

K*u

States

Input

Desired State Vector

Inputs

Controls

Winds

RST

States

Sensors

VelW

Mach

Ang Acc

Euler

AeroCoeff

PropCoeff

Mass

ECEF

MSL

AGL

REarth

AConGnd

Kadet MKII

0

Ignition

0.7192

Heading

Longitude

Latitude

Heading

Selector

Guidance Block

0

Flap0

Desiderd change in altitude

Demux

Demux

Demux

Demux

States

Input

Desired State Vector

Inputs

Controller to stabilize level straight flight

States

Inputs

Desired State Vector

True control inputs

Controller to stabilizecoordinated right turn

−0.07889

Bank angle

17.46

Airspeed

2.345

AOA

Figu

reE

.1:Sim

ulin

km

odel

toim

plem

ent

closed-lo

opgu

idan

ceon

non

linear

aircraft

model

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Perturbation inaltitude

Perturbations inmeasurable

states

Perturbations incontrol inputs

Estimated states

1

True control inputs

K*u

State feedbackgain matrix

x’ = Ax+Bu y = Cx+Du

Reduced−orderobserver u+0.072167

Fcn9

u−5.5841*pi/180

Fcn8

u−(−0.2353*pi/180)

Fcn7

u−100.377436

Fcn6

u+0.002601

Fcn5

u+0.000447

Fcn4

u−0.9846*pi/180

Fcn3

u−1000

Fcn2

u+100.377436

Fcn12

u−0.002601

Fcn11

u−0.000447

Fcn10

u−0.072167

Fcn1

u−17.44

Fcn

Demux

Demux

Demux

Demux

3

Desired State Vector

2

Inputs

1

States

Figu

reE

.2:Sim

ulin

km

odel

ofth

econ

troller

51

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References

[1] Lyshevski, S. E., “Aircraft Flight Control System Design and Control Bounds,”

IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Vol. 34, No. 1, January

1998, pp. 257-263.

[2] Yang, C. D., Kung, C. C., “Nonlinear H∞ Flight Control,” Proceeding of the

American Control Conference, June 1997, pp. 140-144.

[3] Keating, M. S., Parchter, M., and Houpis, C. H., “Damaged Aircraft Control Using

a QFT Designed Flight Controller,” Report published by Air Force Institute of

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[4] Waszak, M. R., and Davidson, J. B., “Simulation and Flight Control of an Aeroe-

lastic Fixed Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle,” AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics

Conference, August 2002, Monterey, CA.

[5] Farrel, J., Sharma, M., and Polycarpou, M., “On-line Approximation Based Air-

craft Longitudinal Control,” Proceedings of the American Control Conference,

June 2003, pp. 1011-1019.

[6] Andrievsky, B., and Fradkov, A., “Combined Adaptive Autopilot for an UAV

Flight Control,” Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Control

Applications, September 2002, pp. 290-291.

[7] Bhat, S., and Kumar, P., “A Feedback Guidance Strategy for an Autonomous

Mini-Air-Vehicle,” National Conference on Control and Dynamical Systems, IIT

Bombay, January 27-28, 2005.

[8] Anderson, J. D., Introduction to Flight, McGraw Hill, 1985.

[9] Stevens, B. L., Lewis, F. L., Aircraft Control and Simulation, John Wiley Sons,

Inc, 1992.

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[10] Hoh, R. H., Proposed MIL Standard and Handbook: Flying Qualities of Aerial

Vehicles, AFWAL, 1982.

[11] Lourtie, P., Azinheira, J. R., and Rente, J. P., “Analysis and Simulation of the

Longitudinal Control of An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,” Published by The Institute

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[12] Ogata, K., Modern Control Engineering, Fourth Edition, Prentice-Hall of India,

2002.

[13] “Earth radius,” Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth radius.

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Acknowledgment

Date: 8-7-2005

I would like to express my sincere gratitude towards Prof. S.P. Bhat, for his invalu-

able guidance and constant encouragement during the course of M.Tech. Project. I

would also like to express my sincere gratitude towards Prof. H. Arya for his valuable

support.

S. Gopinadh

03301012

54