Generic pilot and flight control model for use in simulation studies

In developing an aircraft simulation, a number of aircraft dynamic models are available with a range of fidelity. However, many applications of simulation also require a model of the flight control or of the pilot to realize their goals. These models can be difficult to implement using classical control methods and, in the case of flight control systems, may not be publicly available. This paper describes a generic pilot and flight control model suitable for many applications of simulation in research and design. This model may be easily implemented in simulation by using a architecture adapted from adaptive control for innerloop attitude control, which capitalizes upon the dynamic information known within a simulation to create a stable control behavior. This architecture allows specification of the closed-loop behavior of the aircraft and controller (pilot or autopilot). Specific implementations of inner- and outer-loop control behavior are detailed. Simulation runs with this controller, acting as both a pilot and as a flight control system, are documented.