An investigation into aircraft loss of control and recovery solutions

Abstract

Aircraft loss of control is an acute phenomenon that has far reaching consequences irrespective of the class and type of aircraft. In order to ensure safe aircraft operation, loss of control problem has to be addressed efficaciously. This paper investigates various factors that trigger the onset of loss of control events and recovery solutions for the same. Rather than relying on statistics alone, this paper concentrates on simulation-based investigation towards various loss of control scenarios and subsequent recovery schemes. Through bifurcation analysis, distinct abnormal dynamics have been identified and their contributions in driving the aircraft towards loss of control have been examined. The effect of steady wind on aircraft dynamics and the evolution of chaotic dynamics as a precursor to loss of control are presented. Aircraft loss of control under actuator impairment conditions are also probed into. Various loss of control recovery schemes have been investigated and a robust loss of control recovery solution based on sliding mode control is also presented.

Nonlinear robust adaptive control of an airplane with structural damage

“…In fact, loss of control (LoC) remains one of the dominant contributors to fatal aircraft accidents over the past few decades. 1,2 Although a lot of control methodologies especially Fault Tolerant Control (FTC) algorithms have been proposed or developed by researchers to handle emergency situations arising from sensor faults, actuator or structural damage, it still remains an open area of research. [1][2][3] Actuator fault is investigated in several recent literature.…”

“…1,2 Although a lot of control methodologies especially Fault Tolerant Control (FTC) algorithms have been proposed or developed by researchers to handle emergency situations arising from sensor faults, actuator or structural damage, it still remains an open area of research. [1][2][3] Actuator fault is investigated in several recent literature. [4][5][6] Shin et al 4 introduced a reconfigurable flight control system using adaptive sliding mode control (SMC) for actuator fault.…”

“…The performance of the algorithm was verified through simulation results on Generic Transport Model (GTM), which is also the case study in this article. SMC algorithm was also proposed in other literature 1,4,[27][28][29] as an adaptive control scheme as FTC strategy.…”