Safety enhanced digital flight control system
Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology
ISSN: 0002-2667
Article publication date: 4 September 2009
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the general idea, design, and implementation of control system for general aviation aircraft which reduces pilot workload.
Design/methodology/approach
Proposed indirect flight control system framework is intended to simplify piloting, reduce pilot workload, and allow low‐end general aviation aircraft to operate under deteriorated meteorological conditions. Classical control theory is used for the design of the flight control laws. Although not inherently robust, controllers with classical control logic are made sufficiently stable using a correct and updated controller structure.
Findings
Despite controversies between perception of a modern manned aerial vehicle and limitations imposed by legacy airworthiness codes it is shown that a pilot workload reducing system can be successfully implemented onboard of a low‐end general aviation aircraft.
Research limitations/implications
Hi‐level control laws and optimization of handling qualities can lead to unfavourable and unpredictable forms of man‐machine interactions, e.g. pilot‐induced oscillations.
Practical implications
General aviation aircraft are mostly flown by a single pilot, who could benefit from an intelligent system or “virtual copilot” assisting in or supervising the aircraft's safe operation under any conditions. Aircraft with this capability represents a next step in the evolution that might ultimately lead to trajectory‐based free‐flight concept of aircraft operations.
Originality/value
The paper introduces a safety enhanced digital flight control system on board small general aviation aircraft.
Keywords
Citation
Chudý, P., Tomczyk, A. and Rzucidlo, P. (2009), "Safety enhanced digital flight control system", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 81 No. 5, pp. 416-423. https://doi.org/10.1108/00022660910983699
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited