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Multiple model adaptive algorithms for detecting and compensating sensor and actuator/surface failures in aircraft flight control systems
Author(s) -
Maybeck Peter S.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of robust and nonlinear control
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.361
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-1239
pISSN - 1049-8923
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1239(19991215)9:14<1051::aid-rnc452>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - actuator , control theory (sociology) , estimator , flight control surfaces , kalman filter , fly by wire , control system , engineering , stability (learning theory) , computer science , control engineering , algorithm , control (management) , flight simulator , simulation , artificial intelligence , aerodynamics , mathematics , statistics , electrical engineering , machine learning , aerospace engineering
Multiple model adaptive estimation (MMAE) methods have been incorporated into the design of a flight control system for the variable in‐flight stability test aircraft (VISTA) F‐16, providing it with the capability to detect and compensate for sensor and control surface/actuator failures. The algorithm consists of a ‘front end’ estimator for the control system, composed of a bank of parallel Kalman filters, each matched to a specific hypothesis about the failure status of the system (fully functional or a failure in any one sensor or surface/actuator), and a means of blending the filter outputs through a probability‐weighted average. For multiple failures, a hierarchical structure is used to keep the number of online filters to a minimum. To compensate for failed control surfaces or actuators, a ‘back end’ algorithm redistributes control commands (that would normally be sent to surfaces detected as having failed) to the non‐failed surfaces, accomplishing the same control action on the aircraft. Failures are demonstrated detectable in less than one second, even at low dynamic pressure (20000ft and 0.4 Mach), with an aircraft output nearly identical to that anticipated from a fully functional aircraft in the same environment. Published in 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the United States.