Flight control design and simulation handling qualities assessment of high-speed rotorcraft

Tom Berger, Chris L. Blanken, Mark B. Tischler, Joseph Francis Horn

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The U.S. Army Aviation Development Directorate has developed generic high-fidelity flight-dynamics models of two advanced high-speed rotorcraft configurations—a lift offset coaxial helicopter with a pusher propeller and a tiltrotor. The models were developed to provide the government with independent control-system design, handling-qualities analysis, and simulation research capabilities for these types of aircraft in support of the Future Vertical Lift initiate. Full flight envelope explicit model following control systems were designed for both configurations using a multi-objective optimization approach to meet a comprehensive set of stability, handling qualities, and performance requirements. The control laws for both aircraft were evaluated in a piloted simulation experiment at the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator using a series of high-speed handling qualities demonstration maneuvers. This paper discusses the control laws and the results of the piloted handling qualities assessment. The results from the simulation experiment show overall assigned Level 1 handling qualities for both aircraft.

Original languageEnglish (US)
StatePublished - Jan 1 2019
EventVertical Flight Society's 75th Annual Forum and Technology Display - Philadelphia, United States
Duration: May 13 2019May 16 2019

Conference

ConferenceVertical Flight Society's 75th Annual Forum and Technology Display
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPhiladelphia
Period5/13/195/16/19

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Flight control design and simulation handling qualities assessment of high-speed rotorcraft'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this