A new control strategy of stopped-rotor aircraft based on manipulation model

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the control strategy of transition mode of the stopped-rotor (SR) aircraft under the condition of redundant control and complex aerodynamic characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first proposes a transition strategy for the conversion between helicopter mode and fixed-wing mode. Then, aiming at the redundancy of the two control systems in the transition process, a control model is proposed, which greatly simplifies the control in conversion mode. Then, to facilitate the design of the control system, the Takagi-Sugeno model of the SR aircraft in transition mode is established. Finally, an explicit model tracking and tuning parameter stability augmentation control system is designed, so that the SR aircraft has a good stability during the transition process. Then, the outer loop control system of transition flight is designed.

Findings

The simulation results show that the control strategy proposed in this paper can realize the mode conversion well. It lays a solid foundation for the subsequent engineering flight test for the SR aircraft.

Originality/value

The work done in this paper provides ideas and methods for the flight control system design of SR aircraft in transition mode. The method of designing control model to solve the coordination of redundant control system is also applicable for other multimode aircraft, which provides a simple and convenient method for the multimode aircraft control.

Citation

Gao, H. (2022), "A new control strategy of stopped-rotor aircraft based on manipulation model", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 94 No. 10, pp. 1720-1730. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-10-2021-0314