The methodology for the design of error-actuated digital set-point tracking controllers proposed by Porter and co-workers has emerged as a result of the pursuit of effective and practical solutions to the problem of designing digital control systems for unknown, dynamically complex multivariable plants with measurable outputs. In this thesis, such digital set-point tracking controllers and the resulting digital set-point tracking systems are enriched to embrace plants with unmeasurable outputs and plants with more outputs than manipulated inputs. In the study of the latter plants, the novel concepts of limit tracking (i.e. the tracking exhibited by plants with more outputs than inputs) is introduced and an associated methodology for the design of self-selecting controllers is proposed. Such controllers involve the selection of different set-point tracking controllers to control the most critical subset of plant outputs based upon the developed rigorous theoretical foundations for the limit-tracking systems. In such foundations, the classification of linear multivariable plants into Class I and Class II plants based upon their steady-state transfer function matrices facilitates the assessment of the feasibility of limit-tracking systems. Furthermore, the associated order-reduction technique simplifies the problem of deciding the minimum numbers of different subsets of plant outputs to be controlled by corresponding set-point tracking controllers. In addition, the dynamical properties of limit-tracking systems are also investigated using the phase-plane method and a methodology for the design of supervisory self-selecting controllers is proposed so as to prevent the occurrence of dynamical peculiarities such as limit-cycle oscillations which might happen in limit-tracking systems. The effectiveness of all the proposed methodologies and techniques is illustrated by examples, and the robustness properties of set-point tracking systems and limit-tracking systems in the face of plant variations and unknown disturbances are tested. Finally, self-selecting controllers are designed for a nonlinear gas-turbine engine and their practical effectiveness is clearly demonstrated.

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Wind-shear is a spatial or temporal gradient in wind speed and/or direction, and is generally associated with the presence of cold and warm fronts and thunderstorm cells. It is a serious hazard in the terminal stages of flight for all aircraft but for light aircraft in particular. The research work presented in this dissertation concerns the design of a wind-shear detection system which involved the application of estimation theory and digital simulation techniques. The wind-shear detection system was designed after a careful study of the results obtained from a digital simulation of an aircraft landing phase, including the effects of wind-shear.

This thesis presents a damage-tolerant flight control system design for propulsion-controlled aircraft (PCA). PCA refers to an emergency piloting strategy that flight crews use throttle modulation only to achieve the attitude control of aircraft in case of conventional flight control system failures. PCA also refers to a conceptual or experimental aircraft that is installed with such automated thrust-only control system. When an aircraft undergoes structural damage to its airframe, lifting or control surfaces which cause conventional control system failures, PCA is adopted as an alternative control approach to stabilize the aircraft. However, the control of the damaged aircraft poses complications in stability recovering as unmodeled uncertainties and perturbed dynamics have significant impact on flight dynamics. Therefore, the PCA flight control system should have a high level of robustness against such model uncertainties, aerodynamics parameter deviations, and model perturbations. This thesis presents the study of robust PCA control system design using H infinity-based robust control method. The developed controllers are tested through both linear and nonlinear simulations. A comprehensive evaluation is performed for several different emergency scenarios. The results demonstrate the advantages of the newly-designed robust flight control architecture over the existing optimal controller in dealing with model deviations due to structural damage.

This thesis presents a damage-tolerant flight control system design for propulsion-controlled aircraft (PCA). PCA refers to an emergency piloting strategy that flight crews use throttle modulation only to achieve the attitude control of aircraft in case of conventional flight control system failures. PCA also refers to a conceptual or experimental aircraft that is installed with such automated thrust-only control system. When an aircraft undergoes structural damage to its airframe, lifting or control surfaces which cause conventional control system failures, PCA is adopted as an alternative control approach to stabilize the aircraft. However, the control of the damaged aircraft poses complications in stability recovering as unmodeled uncertainties and perturbed dynamics have significant impact on flight dynamics. Therefore, the PCA flight control system should have a high level of robustness against such model uncertainties, aerodynamics parameter deviations, and model perturbations. This thesis presents the study of robust PCA control system design using H infinity-based robust control method. The developed controllers are tested through both linear and nonlinear simulations. A comprehensive evaluation is performed for several different emergency scenarios. The results demonstrate the advantages of the newly-designed robust flight control architecture over the existing optimal controller in dealing with model deviations due to structural damage.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 42 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

The objective of this work is to adopt and further expand the type design of the SONG motor glider. The study will result in the basic aerodynamic calculation and the design of lateral control system including structural strength inspection of selected parts. Subsequently, the proposal will allow for further calculation to be made (of flight mechanics, wings strength or fuselage and empennage firmness) and for more specific constructional design of individual components of the glider.

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This master thesis is focused on design of control stick grip and rudder pedals extension. These components are equipped with active elements, which provide pilot with haptic feedback. The purpose of the introduced design is to allow prototype to be built into the aeroplane so that the proposed concept of haptic feedback can be tested onboard. It shall verify used technical solutions as well to allow for their application on following development stages that aim at certification of the proposed haptic feedback system to be used in general aviation aeroplanes. The designed components are the successors of prototypes used for experiments carried on flight simulator. The design process follows the requirements of legislation and outcomes of the previous experiments. This thesis follows the design process from setting of the design requirements to mechanical test of 3D printed prototypes.