Practical Methods for Aircraft and Rotorcraft Flight Control Design: An Optimization-based Approach

Reducing the theoretical methods of flight control to design practice, Practical Methods for Aircraft and Rotorcraft Flight Control Design: An Optimization-Based Approach compiles the authors extensive experience and lessons learned into a single comprehensive resource for both academics and working flight control engineers.

Concepts Discussed
Historical flight control design case studies and lessons learned, and best practices in selecting control law architecture, specifications, and simulation modeling.
Multi-objective parametric optimization design approach, with a focus on how to apply this method to both simple case studies and real-world piloted simulation and flight-test examples.
Optimization of classical and modern MIMO control design methods to meet a common set of design requirements and compare the resulting performance and robustness.
Special Features
Step-by-step illustrations of all methods using practical case studies covering the entire design cycle, from selection of design specifications and simulation model to optimization results and robustness analysis.
Specific guidelines for specification selection, simulation modeling, control design rules of thumb, robustness analysis, nested-loop architecture optimization, and design margin optimization.
Extensive problem sets and a solution guide for classrooms or self-study, giving hands-on real-world experience with methods and results. Student version of CONDUIT® for exercises is included.

Mark B. Tischler leads research and flight testing in system identification, control system optimization, handling-qualities, and flight simulation covering manned and unmanned vehicles.
Tom Berger is a research aerospace engineer and specializes in fixed-wing and rotorcraft system identification, flight control design, and handling-qualities simulation and flight-test analysis.
Christina M. Ivler is a research aerospace engineer with focus on rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics, handling-qualities, and flight control law design and optimization.
Mohammadreza H. Mansur leads the RASCAL research helicopter project, conducting flight experiments in advanced control law concepts, handling-qualities, cueing, and autonomy.
Kenny K. Cheung leads the software development and technology transfer activities for the integrated flight control design and optimization application suite, including CONDUIT®.
Jonathan Y. Soong is a technical writer and is responsible for the business development of the software transfer distribution program and worldwide customer inquiries.