SIMULATION INVESTIGATION ON DYNAMIC PRESSURE IN GLIDE ANGLE CONTROL

This paper presents an application of computer simulation to investiga te the feasibility of using dynamic pressure measurements to maintain an optimal glide angle of a vehicle in mid-air guidance. The non-linea r vehicle dynamics are simulated using the advanced continuous simulat ion language (ACSL) package. The sensitivity of the changes in the gli de angle to variations in the dynamic pressure is analyzed based on th e simulated quasi-steady state dynamics of the vehicle. A proportional controller using dynamic pressure feedback is designed based on the l inearized analysis of the dynamics about the equilibrium conditions an d neglecting the short period mode damping. Computer simulations of th e controlled vehicle show that about 20% increase in the glide range c an be achieved.