Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion Control for Urban Air Mobility Aircraft with Distributed Electric Propulsion

Théron, Jean-Pierre; Enciu, Jacob; Horn, Joseph F.; Wachspress, Daniel A.; Dynamics, Continuum

doi:10.4050/f-0076-2020-16396

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…On the other hand, modifications to the NDI control law may be necessary depending on the configuration of interest. For instance, NDI flight control laws for tiltrotors or coaxial compound helicopters can be adapted through [50,51], whereas NDI flight control laws for lift+cruise UAM vehicles can be based on [52].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tau Theory-Based Flare Control in Autonomous Helicopter Autorotation

Saetti,

Rogers,

Alam

et al. 2023

Aerospace

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A novel trajectory generation and control architecture for fully autonomous autorotative flare that combines rapid path generation with model-based control is proposed. The trajectory generation component uses optical Tau theory to compute flare trajectories for both longitudinal and vertical speed. These flare trajectories are tracked using a nonlinear dynamic inversion (NDI) control law. One convenient feature of NDI is that it inverts the plant model in its feedback linearization loop, which eliminates the need for gain scheduling. However, the plant model used for feedback linearization still needs to be scheduled with the flight condition. This key aspect is leveraged to derive a control law that is scheduled with linearized models of the rotorcraft flight dynamics obtained in steady-state autorotation, while relying on a single set of gains. Computer simulations are used to demonstrate that the NDI control law is able to successfully execute autorotative flare in the UH-60 aircraft. Autonomous flare trajectories are compared to piloted simulation data to assess similarities and discrepancies between piloted and automatic control approaches. Trade studies examine which combinations of downrange distances and altitudes at flare initiation result in successful autorotative landings.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tau Theory-Based Flare Control in Autonomous Helicopter Autorotation

Saetti,

Rogers,

Alam

et al. 2023

Aerospace

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NASA concept vehicles and the engineering of advanced air mobility aircraft

Johnson

Silva

2021

Aeronaut. j.

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NASA is conducting investigations in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft and operations. AAM missions are characterised by ranges below 300 nm, including rural and urban operations, passenger carrying as well as cargo delivery. Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is a subset of AAM and is the segment that is projected to have the most economic benefit and be the most difficult to develop. The NASA Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology project is developing UAM VTOL aircraft designs that can be used to focus and guide research activities in support of aircraft development for emerging aviation markets. These NASA concept vehicles encompass relevant UAM features and technologies, including propulsion architectures, highly efficient yet quiet rotors, and aircraft aerodynamic performance and interactions. The configurations adopted are generic, intentionally different in appearance and design detail from prominent industry arrangements. Already these UAM concept aircraft have been used in numerous engineering investigations, including work on meeting safety requirements, achieving good handling qualities, and reducing noise below helicopter certification levels. Focusing on the concept vehicles, observations are made regarding the engineering of Advanced Air Mobility aircraft.

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Challenges and opportunities for low noise electric aircraft

Greenwood

Brentner

Rau

et al. 2022

International Journal of Aeroacoustics

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A new class of electric aircraft is being developed to transport people and goods as a part of the urban and regional transportation infrastructure. To gain public acceptance of these operations, these aircraft need to be much quieter than conventional airplanes and helicopters. This article seeks to review and summarize the aeroacoustic research relevant to this new category of aircraft. First, a brief review of the history of electric aircraft is provided, with an emphasis on how these aircraft differ from conventional aircraft. Next, the physics of rotor noise generation are reviewed, and the noise sources most likely to be of concern for electric aircraft are highlighted. These are divided into deterministic and nondeterministic sources of noise. Deterministic noise is expected to be dominated by the unsteady loading noise caused by the aerodynamic interactions between components. Nondeterministic noise will be generated by the interaction of the rotor or propeller blades with turbulence from ingested wakes, the atmosphere, and self-generated in the boundary layer. The literature for these noise sources is reviewed with a focus on applicability to electric aircraft. Challenges faced by the aeroacoustician in understanding the noise generation of electric aircraft are then identified, as well as the new opportunities for the prediction and reduction of electric aircraft noise that may be enabled by advances in computational aeroacoustics, flight simulation, and autonomy.

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Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion Control for Urban Air Mobility Aircraft with Distributed Electric Propulsion

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Tau Theory-Based Flare Control in Autonomous Helicopter Autorotation

Tau Theory-Based Flare Control in Autonomous Helicopter Autorotation

NASA concept vehicles and the engineering of advanced air mobility aircraft

Challenges and opportunities for low noise electric aircraft

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