Adaptive Model Predictive Control for Engine-Driven Ducted Fan Lift Systems using an Associated Linear Parameter Varying Model

TL;DR

This paper introduces an adaptive model predictive control strategy using a linear parameter varying model trained on engine data to improve control of ducted fan lift systems, demonstrating high accuracy and robustness.

Contribution

It develops a novel AMPC approach with an associated LPV model derived from a trained neural network, enhancing control adaptability and robustness for engine-driven ducted fan systems.

Findings

RBF model outperforms others in prediction accuracy and robustness

AMPC achieves thrust control with less than 3.5% error

Numerical simulations validate the effectiveness of the proposed control method

Abstract

Ducted fan lift systems (DFLSs) powered by two-stroke aviation piston engines present a challenging control problem due to their complex multivariable dynamics. Current controllers for these systems typically rely on proportional-integral algorithms combined with data tables, which rely on accurate models and are not adaptive to handle time-varying dynamics or system uncertainties. This paper proposes a novel adaptive model predictive control (AMPC) strategy with an associated linear parameter varying (LPV) model for controlling the engine-driven DFLS. This LPV model is derived from a global network model, which is trained off-line with data obtained from a general mean value engine model for two-stroke aviation engines. Different network models, including multi-layer perceptron, Elman, and radial basis function (RBF), are evaluated and compared in this study. The results demonstrate that the RBF model exhibits higher prediction accuracy and robustness in the DFLS application. Based on the trained RBF model, the proposed AMPC approach constructs an associated network that directly outputs the LPV model parameters as an adaptive, robust, and efficient prediction model. The efficiency of the proposed approach is demonstrated through numerical simulations of a vertical take-off thrust preparation process for the DFLS. The simulation results indicate that the proposed AMPC method can effectively control the DFLS thrust with a relative error below 3.5%.