Piloted Evaluation of Adaptive Flight Controls Designed to Improve Performance, Safety, and Survivability for Advanced VTOL Aircraft

ADAPT™ is a flight control software package that improves the safety, survivability, performance, and affordability of advanced VTOL aircraft that include multiple types and instances of control effectors. ADAPT™ includes three different control algorithms: Fly-to-Optimal performs trim optimization based on selected objectives for increased performance; Vehicle Maneuver Optimization improves maneuverability in unsteady flight; Damage Tolerant Control re-allocates control forces and moments to allow for a greater chance of survival in case of damage to the aircraft. This paper describes the implementation and testing of these algorithms in piloted simulation of an operational mission using the X-49 winged compound aircraft. The results show that, with ADAPT™ on, the operational mission can be flown faster while burning less fuel, resulting in increased aircraft endurance and range. Maneuvering flight with ADAPT™ can be flown faster as well. In the case of simulated aircraft damage, aircraft without ADAPT™ were unable to recover and crashed in every case tested, while those with ADAPT™ were able to recover, fly to an emergency airfield, and land.