Performance Analysis of Flight Control Laws Applied to a Simplified Analog of the Dual-Aircraft Platform Concept
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 35, Issue 4
Abstract
Dual-aircraft platform (DAP) is a novel atmospheric satellite concept that features two gliderlike unmanned aircraft connected by a long, ultrathin cable, which uses the persistent levels of vertical wind shear in the lower stratosphere to sail without propulsion. This article presents a comparative design and analysis of three control strategies applied to a simplified analog of the DAP concept, which involves one aircraft connected by a thin cable to a steadily moving ground vehicle (GV). Similar to the DAP, the goal is to sustain flight without thrust (“sail”), and without being towed by the GV, using a sufficient persistent crosswind, despite uncertainties in the cable aerodynamics and disturbances associated with turbulence and changes in mean wind velocity. These control strategies, which include a linear nonadaptive architecture, a nonlinear dynamic inversion, and a output feedback adaptation, are designed following an unorthodox control allocation. The robustness and performance of these control strategies are characterized using a set of metrics designed to capture control actuation energy and thrust impulse used to maintain sailing flight conditions. The results show that including an adaptive layer prevents instability of the vehicle under unforeseen extreme flight conditions and enables sailing with minimum use of propulsion.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program for providing funding for this effort under Grant NNX16AL28G.
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History
Received: Sep 10, 2020
Accepted: Feb 17, 2022
Published online: Apr 28, 2022
Published in print: Jul 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Sep 28, 2022
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