A nonlinear inverse-dynamics flight control system

The theme of this paper is the use of differential-geometricalcontrol and its application, through the nonlinear inverse-dynamics(NID) methodology, to a nonlinear flight control system. Wepresent a way for generating a generic control model for a promisingcontrol device—the spoiler—from experimental data,and for combining the nonlinear spoiler model with nonlinearaircraft dynamics. A new design procedure concerning the useof the NID control techniques is developed and utilized forthe design of a nonlinear inverse-dynamics flight control systemwith various functional control modes. Simulation results foraircraft manoeuvres are presented, demonstrating the successof the design procedure and of the control effectiveness ofspoilers for the enhancement of aircraft manoeuvring and, inparticular, for alleviation of the effects of microbursts.