Two-state dynamic gain scheduling control applied to F16 aircraft model

The feasibility and benefits of applying a novel multi-variable Dynamic Gain Scheduling (DGS) to a complex 'industry-scale' aircraft model are investigated; the latter model being a nonlinear representation of the intrinsically unstable F16 aircraft incorporating detailed aerodynamic data. Dynamic Gain Scheduling (DGS) is a novel control approach which involves scheduling controller gains with one (or more) of the system states whilst accounting for the 'hidden coupling terms' ensuring a near-ideal response. It is effective for nonlinear systems exhibiting rapid dynamic changes between operating points. Recently, this approach has been extended to a multi-variable and multi-input context. Hence, unlike previous DGS work on realistic aircraft models, relevant feedback gains are to be scheduled with all, i.e. two, state variables in order to demonstrate the ability of the approach to compensate for nonlinearity during rapid manoeuvres and consequently achieving better flying qualities over a range of conditions than standard gain scheduling. Time history simulations will be used to draw comparisons with the more traditional 'static' gain scheduling and input gain scheduling method.