Interpolatory Methods for Generic BizJet Gust Load Alleviation Function

TL;DR

This paper introduces interpolatory methods for designing and discretizing control systems to reduce gust loads on aircraft, demonstrating effectiveness through a real-world jet aircraft use-case.

Contribution

It presents a rational data and function interpolation framework for creating reduced-order models and discretizing controllers for complex linear dynamical systems.

Findings

Successful design of a gust load alleviation control on a jet aircraft

Validated control performance using industrial simulator

Method applicable to various linear dynamical systems

Abstract

The paper's main contribution concerns the use of interpolatory methods to solve end to end industrial control problems involving complex linear dynamical systems. More in details, contributions show how the rational data and function interpolation framework is a pivotal tool (i) to construct (frequency-limited) reduced order dynamical models appropriate for model-based control design and (ii) to accurately discretise controllers in view of on-board computer-limited implementation. These contributions are illustrated along the paper through the design of an active feedback gust load alleviation function, applied on an industrial generic business jet aircraft use-case. The closed-loop validation and performances evaluation are assessed through the use of an industrial dedicated simulator and considering certification objectives. Although application is centred on aircraft applications, the method is not restrictive and can be extended to any linear dynamical systems.