Military helicopter operations require precise maneuverability characteristics for performance to be determined for the entire helicopter flight envelope. Historically, these maneuverability analyses are combinatorial in nature and involve human-interaction, which hinders their integration into conceptual design. A model formulation that includes the necessary quantitative measures and captures the impact of changing requirements real-time is presented. The formulation is shown to offer a more conservative estimate of maneuverability than traditional energy-based formulations through quantitative analysis of a typical pop-up maneuver. Although the control system design is not directly integrated, two control constraint measures are deemed essential in this work: control deflection rate and trajectory divergence rate. Both of these measures are general enough to be applied to any control architecture, while at the same time enable quantitative trades that relate overall vehicle maneuverability to control system requirements. The dimensionality issues stemming from the immense maneuver space are mitigated through systematic development of a maneuver taxonomy that enables the operational envelope to be decomposed into a minimal set of fundamental maneuvers. The taxonomy approach is applied to a helicopter canonical example that requires maneuverability and design to be assessed simultaneously. The end result is a methodology that enables the impact of design choices on maneuverability to be assessed for the entire helicopter operational envelope, while enabling constraints from control system design to be assessed real-time.

The role of vision as an additional sensing mechanism has received a lot of attention in recent years in the context of autonomous flight applications. Modern Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are equipped with vision sensors because of their light-weight, low-cost characteristics and also their ability to provide a rich variety of information of the environment in which the UAVs are navigating in. The problem of vision based autonomous flight is very difficult and challenging since it requires bringing together concepts from image processing and computer vision, target tracking and state estimation, and flight guidance and control. This thesis focuses on the adaptive state estimation, guidance and control problems involved in vision-based formation flight. Specifically, the thesis presents a composite adaptation approach to the partial state estimation of a class of nonlinear systems with unmodeled dynamics. In this approach, a linear time-varying Kalman filter is the nominal state estimator which is augmented by the output of an adaptive neural network (NN) that is trained with two error signals. The benefit of the proposed approach is in its faster and more accurate adaptation to the modeling errors over a conventional approach. The thesis also presents two approaches to the design of adaptive guidance and control (G&C) laws for line-of-sight formation flight. In the first approach, the guidance and autopilot systems are designed separately and then combined together by assuming time-scale separation. The second approach is based on integrating the guidance and autopilot design process. The developed G&C laws using both approaches are adaptive to unmodeled leader aircraft acceleration and to own aircraft aerodynamic uncertainties. The thesis also presents theoretical justification based on Lyapunov-like stability analysis for integrating the adaptive state estimation and adaptive G&C designs. All the developed designs are validated in nonlinear, 6DOF fixed-wing aircraft simulations. Finally, the thesis presents a decentralized coordination strategy for vision-based multiple-aircraft formation control. In this approach, each aircraft in formation regulates range from up to two nearest neighboring aircraft while simultaneously tracking nominal desired trajectories common to all aircraft and avoiding static obstacles.

Compte tenu de la forte croissance du trafic aérien aussi bien dans les pays émergents que dans les pays développés soutenue durant ces dernières décennies, la satisfaction des exigences relatives à la sécurité et à l'environnement nécessite le développement de nouveaux systèmes de guidage. L'objectif principal de cette thèse est de contribuer à la synthèse d'une nouvelle génération de lois de guidage pour les avions de transport présentant de meilleures performances en terme de suivi de trajectoire. Il s'agit en particulier d'évaluer la faisabilité et les performances d'un système de guidage utilisant un référentiel spatial. Avant de présenter les principales approches utilisées pour le développement de lois de commande pour les systèmes de pilotage et de guidage automatiques et la génération de directives de guidage par le système de gestion du vol, la dynamique du vol d'un avion de transport est modélisée en prenant en compte d'une manière explicite les composantes du vent. Ensuite, l'intérêt de l'application de la commande adaptative dans le domaine de la conduite automatique du vol est discuté et une loi de commande adaptative pour le suivi de pente est proposée. Les principales techniques de commande non linéaires reconnues d'intérêt pour le suivi de trajectoire sont alors analysées. Finalement, une loi de commande référencée dans l'espace pour le guidage vertical d'un avion de transport est développée et est comparée avec l'approche temporelle classique. L'objectif est de réduire les erreurs de poursuite et mieux répondre aux contraintes de temps de passage en certains points de l'espace ainsi qu'à une possible contrainte de temps d'arrivée.

A helicopter can be used to transport a load hanging from a suspension cable. This technique is frequently used in construction, firefighting, and disaster relief operations, among other applications. Unfortunately, the suspended load swings, which makes load positioning difficult and can degrade control of the helicopter. This dissertation investigates the use of input shaping (a command-filtering technique for reducing vibration) to mitigate the load swing problem. The investigation is conducted using two different, but complementary, approaches. One approach studies manual tracking tasks, where a human attempts to make a cursor follow an unpredictably moving target. The second approach studies horizontal repositioning maneuvers on small-scale helicopter systems, including a novel testbed that limits the helicopter and suspended load to move in a vertical plane. Both approaches are used to study how input shaping affects control of a flexible element (the suspended load) and a driven base (the helicopter). In manual tracking experiments, conventional input shapers somewhat degraded control of the driven base but greatly improved control of the flexible element. New input shapers were designed to improve load control without negatively affecting base control. A method for adjusting the vibration-limiting aggressiveness of any input shaper between unshaped and fully shaped was also developed. Next, horizontal repositioning maneuvers were performed on the helicopter testbed using a human-pilot-like feedback controller from the literature, with parameter values scaled to match the fast dynamics of the model helicopter. It was found that some input shapers reduced settling time and peak load swing when applied to Attitude Command or Translational Rate Command response types. When the load was used as a position reference instead of the helicopter, the system was unstable without input shaping, and adding input shaping to a Translational Rate Command was able to stabilize the load-positioning system. These results show the potential to improve the safety and efficiency of helicopter suspended load operations.

L'objectif de cette thèse est d'optimiser l'utilisation d'actionneurs redondants pour un avion de transport lorsqu'une défaillance des actionneurs arrive en vol. La tolérance aux pannes résulte ici de la redondance des actionneurs présents sur l'avion. Différents concepts et méthodes classiques liés aux chaînes de commande de vol tolérantes aux pannes sont d'abord examinés et de nouveaux concepts utiles pour l'analyse requise sont introduits. Le problème qui est abordé ici est de développer une méthode de gestion des pannes des commandes de vol dans le cas d'une défaillance partielle des actionneurs, qui va permettre à l'avion de poursuivre en toute sécurité la manœuvre prévue. Une approche de commande en deux étapes est proposée et appliquée à la fois à l'évaluation de la manœuvrabilité restante et à la conception de structures de commande tolérante aux pannes. Dans le premier cas, une méthode d'évaluation hors ligne des qualités de vol basée sur la commande prédictive est proposée. Dans le second cas, une structure de commande tolérante aux pannes basée sur la commande non linéaire inverse et la réaffectation des actionneurs en ligne est développée. Dans les deux cas, un problème de programmation linéaire quadratique (LQ) est formulé. Différents cas de pannes sont considérés lorsqu'un avion effectue une manœuvre classique. Trois solveurs numériques sont appliqués aux solutions en ligne et hors ligne des problèmes LQ qui en résultent.

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based artificial sensory hairs for flow sensing have been widely explored, but the processes involved in their fabrication are lithography intensive, making the process quite expensive and cumbersome. Most of these devices are also based on silicon MEMS, which makes the fabrication of out-of plane 3D flow sensors very challenging. This thesis aims to develop new fabrication technologies based on Polymer MEMS, with minimum dependence on lithography for the fabrication of piezoresistive 3D out-of-plane artificial sensory hairs for sensing of air flow. Moreover, the fabrication of a flexible sensor array is proposed and new materials are also explored for the sensing application. Soft lithography based approaches are first investigated for the fabrication of an all elastomer device that is tested in a bench top wind tunnel. Micromolding technologies allow for the mass fabrication of microstructures using a single, reusable mold master that is fabricated by SU-8 photolithography, reducing the need for repetitive processing. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used as the device material and sputter deposited gold is used as both the piezoresistive as well as the electrode material for collection of device response. The fabrication results of PDMS to PDMS metal transfer micromolding (MTM) are shown and the limitations of the process are also discussed. A dissolving mold metal transfer micromolding process is then proposed and developed, which overcomes the limitations of the conventional MTM process pertinent to the present application. Testing results of devices fabricated using the dissolving mold process are discussed with emphasis on the role of micro-cr  acking as one failure mode in elastomeric devices with thin film metal electrodes. Finally, a laser microfabrication based approach using thin film Kapton as the device material and an electrically conductive carbon-black elastomer composite as the piezoresistor is proposed and demonstrated. Laminated sheets of thick and thin Kapton form the flexible substrate on which the conductive elastomer piezoresistors are stencil printed. Excimer laser ablation is used to make the micro-stencil as well as to release the Kapton cantilevers. The fluid-structure interaction is improved by the deposition of a thin film of silicon dioxide, which produces a stress-gradient induced curvature, strongly enhancing the device sensitivity. This new approach also enables the fabrication of backside interconnects, thereby addressing the commonly observed problem of flow intrusion while using conventional interconnection technologies like wire-bonding. Devices with varying dimensions of the sensing element are fabricated and the results presented, with smallest devices having a width of 400 microns and a length of 1.5 mm with flow sensitivities as high as 60 Ohms/m/s. Recommendations are also proposed for further optimization of the device.

Cette thèse développe une méthode de faisceau non convexe pour la minimisation de fonctions localement lipschitziennes lower C1 puis l’applique à des problèmes de synthèse de lois de commande structurées issus de l’industrie aéronautique. Ici loi de commande structurée fait référence à une architecture de contrôle, qui se compose d’éléments comme les PIDs, combinés avec des filtres variés, et comprenant beaucoup moins de paramètres de réglage qu’un contrôleur d’ordre plein. Ce type de problème peut se formuler dans le cadre théorique et général de la programmation non convexe et non lisse. Parmi les techniques numériques efficaces pour résoudre ces problèmes non lisses, nous avons dans ce travail, opté pour les méthodes de faisceau, convenablement étendues au cas non convexe. Celles-ci utilisent un oracle qui, en chaque itéré x, retourne la valeur de la fonction et un sous-gradient de Clarke arbitraire. Afin de générer un pas de descente satisfaisant à partir de l’itéré sérieux courant, ces techniques stockent et accumulent de l’information, dans ce que l’on appelle le faisceau, obtenu à partir d’évaluations successives de l’oracle à chaque pas d’essai insatisfaisant. Dans cette thèse, on propose de construire le faisceau en décalant vers le bas une tangente de l’objectif en un pas d’essai ne constituant pas un pas de descente satisfaisant. Le décalage est indispensable dans le cas non convexe pour préserver la consistance, on dit encore l’exactitude, du modèle vis à vis de l’objectif. L’algorithme développé est validé sur un problème de synthèse conjointe du pilote automatique et de la loi des commandes de vol d’un avion civil en un point de vol donné et sur un problème de synthèse de loi de commande par séquencement de gain pour le contrôle longitudinal dans une enveloppe de vol. / This thesis develops a non convex bundle method for the minimization of lower C1 locally Lipschitz functions which it then applies to the synthesis of structured control laws for problems arising in aerospace control. Here a structured control law refers to a control architecture preferred by practitioners, which consist of elements like PIDs, combined with various filters, featuring significantly less tunable parameters than a full-order controller. This type of problem can be formulated under the theoretical and general framework of non convex and non smooth programming. Among the efficient numerical techniques to solve such non smooth problems, we have in this work opted for bundle methods, suitably extended to address non-convex optimization programs. Bundle methods use oracles which at every iterate x return the function value and one unspecified Clarke subgradient. In order to generate descent steps away from a current serious iterate, these techniques hinge on storing and accumulating information, called the bundle, obtained from successive evaluations of the oracle along the unsuccessful trial steps. In this thesis, we propose to build the bundle by shifting down a tangent of the objective at a trial step which is not a satisfactory descent step. The shift is essential in the non convex case in order to preserve the consistency, named also the exactitude, of the model with regard to the objective. The developed algorithm is validated on a synthesis problem combining the automatic pilot and the flight control law of a civil aircraft at a given flying point ; and a gain scheduled control law synthesis for the longitudinal control in a flight envelope.

A dual core Atmel DIOPSIS 940 chip consists of a DSP and an ARM9 functional units in a single silicon die. This thesis presents the process of integration and assessment of using this processor in a flight control system. A complete design of the system is provided including a description of the DIOPSIS 940 from the perspective of requirements of the application. The integration of the processor with a typical set of components of a flight control system is provided. Additionally, a suite of programs required for developing software for the system is included. Capabilities of both cores of the processor are analysed in a series of experiments. Computational performance in typical tasks of a flight control system is analyzed and compared. The application of attitude stabilization for a micro-scale UAS is described.

Cette thèse CIFRE est réalisée dans le cadre d’un partenariat entre le laboratoire IMS de l’Université Bordeaux I et Airbus Operations S.A.S à Toulouse. Le thème abordé concerne la détection robuste et précoce de deux types particuliers de pannes dans le système de commandes de vol, à savoir l’embarquement et le grippage des gouvernes de profondeur. Afin de contribuer à l’optimisation du design structural des futurs avions, l’objectif est de proposer des méthodes capables d’améliorer les performances en détection des techniques actuellement en place, tout en garantissant un haut niveau de robustesse. Trois stratégies de surveillance à base de modèle sont présentées. La première solution est basée sur un filtre de Kalman dédié, associé à une procédure d’optimisation de ses paramètres. La seconde technique est basée sur un test de décision appliqué dans l’espace paramétrique, à une direction sensible identifiée. Finalement, une troisième approche consiste à utiliser un différentiateur à modes glissants pour estimer les dérivées du signal d’entrée et de sortie de la boucle d’asservissement. Les méthodes développées ont été implémentées dans le calculateur de commandes de vol et validées sur les bancs de tests Airbus et même en vol. Les résultats expérimentaux ont clairement mis en évidence l’apport des techniques présentées dans cette thèse par rapport à l’état de l’art industriel. / The research work done in this PhD has been carried out under an industrial convention (CIFRE) between the IMS laboratory (Bordeaux University, France) and Airbus Operations S.A.S. (Toulouse, France). The thesis deals with two important Electrical Flight Control System failure cases: runaway (a.k.a. hard over) and jamming (or lock-in-place failure) of aircraft control surfaces. Early and robust detection of such failures is an important issue for achieving sustainability goals and for early system reconfiguration. The thesis focuses on the elevator runaway and jamming. Three model-based monitoring strategies are presented. The first approach is based on a dedicated Kalman filtering with optimised tuning parameters. The second method is based on a decision test applied to an identified sensitive direction in the parametric space. Finally, the third solution is based on a sliding mode differentiator. The techniques have been implemented in the flight control computer and validated on Airbus test facilities and during real flight tests. The experimental results confirmed that good level of performance and robustness can be obtained.

<p>The use of drones, also called unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), is increasing every day. These aircraft are piloted either remotely by a human pilot or completely autonomously by an on-board computer. UAVs are typically equipped with a video camera providing a live video feed to the operator. While they were originally developed mainly for military purposes, many civil applications start to emerge as they become more affordable.<p><p><p>Micro air vehicles are a subgroup of UAVs with a size and weight limitation; many are designed also for indoor use. Designs with rotary wings are generally preferred over fixed wings as they can take off vertically and operate at low speeds or even hover. At small scales, designs with flapping wings are being explored to try to mimic the exceptional flight capabilities of birds and insects. <p><p><p>The objective of this thesis is to develop a control mechanism for a robotic hummingbird, a bio-inspired tail-less hovering flapping wing MAV. The mechanism should generate moments necessary for flight stabilization and steering by an independent control of flapping motion of each wing.<p><p><p>The theoretical part of this work uses a quasi-steady modelling approach to approximate the flapping wing aerodynamics. The model is linearised and further reduced to study the flight stability near hovering, identify the wing motion parameters suitable for control and finally design a flight controller. Validity of this approach is demonstrated by simulations with the original, non-linear mathematical model.<p><p><p>A robotic hummingbird prototype is developed in the second, practical part. Details are given on the flapping linkage mechanism and wing design, together with tests performed on a custom built force balance and with a high speed camera. Finally, two possible control mechanisms are proposed: the first one is based on wing twist modulation via wing root bars flexing; the second modulates the flapping amplitude and offset via flapping mechanism joint displacements. The performance of the control mechanism prototypes is demonstrated experimentally. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished