Nonlinear Flight Control

What it is about

The module covers design and analysis of nonlinear flight controls. You will learn methods such as input/output linearization (Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion), Backstepping, Singular Perturbation Theory, Contraction Theory and associated observers and control-allocation concepts and apply them; theoretical results will be demonstrated on aviation-related examples and implemented in Matlab/Simulink.

What you will be able to do

• Understand input/output linearization / nonlinear dynamic inversion
• Understand the mathematical background of nonlinear control theory
• Understand the nonlinear Backstepping concept
• Understand conceptual differences between Backstepping and nonlinear dynamic inversion
• Understand Singular Perturbation Theory
• Understand incremental variants of Backstepping and nonlinear dynamic inversion
• Understand Contraction Theory as an alternative stability method
• Understand modified, linear, augmented state observers
• Apply the theory of nonlinear control architectures to examples
• Analyze robustness and stability of the methods
• Evaluate pros and cons of the control architectures
• Theoretically and in Matlab/Simulink develop own nonlinear control approaches

What the module consists of

• LectureConveying the theoretical foundations
• Exercise/Practical Exercise UnitsDevelopment and implementation of nonlinear control approaches in Matlab/Simulink

Teaching method

• Lectures/PresentationsConveying the theoretical foundations
• Blackboard DerivationsDerivation of important relationships
• Practical Exercises in Matlab/SimulinkApplication and implementation of the developed control approaches