NONLINEAR INVERSE DYNAMICS CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT USING SPOILERS

The nonlinear inverse dynamics (NID) methodology and its specific appl ication to flight control using a promising control device, the spoile r, are studied, The proper control modeling of spoiler aerodynamics le ads to a generic nonlinear model for the most typical aft-mounted spoi lers that is then included in a complete nonlinear aircraft model. A n ovel systematic design procedure for the synthesis of robust NID-based flight control systems is presented, Use of the methodology for a mod ern combat aircraft, the Hawk trainer, leads to the development of a m ultimode longitudinal flight control system, with the particular aim o f using spoilers as an active control device. Promising applications o f spoilers for active control of aircraft are studied, and the related control configurations designed, Simulation results for aircraft mane uvering are presented, demonstrating the effectiveness of spoilers for aircraft maneuver enhancement and, in particular, in ameliorating the effects of wind shear and microbursts.