TY - GEN
T1 - Piloted Simulation Evaluation of Maneuver Optimization Control for a Coaxial Compound Helicopter
AU - Horn, Joseph F.
AU - Perry, Ryan J.
AU - Bridges, Derek O.
AU - Kuhn, Nicholas A.
AU - Grey Hagwood, D.
AU - Berger, Tom
AU - Gong, Anthony
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 by the Vertical Flight Society. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The Adaptive Digital Automated Pilotage Technology (ADAPTTM) flight control software package aims to take advantage of redundant controls to improve safety, survivability, and performance for advanced rotorcraft. Vehicle Maneuver Optimization (VMO) is one component of the ADAPTTM architecture. VMO uses feedforward control to increase aircraft maneuverability. The VMO algorithm takes advantage of the control null space of over-actuated aircraft to optimize their quasi-steady trim. In this study, the system is applied to a coaxial compound helicopter and evaluated in piloted simulations at the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator and at the Penn State Rotorcraft Simulator. Handling Qualities Ratings indicated that VMO enhanced handling qualities in aggressive MTEs involving turns, as seen in a Break Turn MTE and a customized Maximum Performance Turn MTE. Simulation results also showed that VMO achieved significant power reductions in these maneuvers. VMO was found to degrade handling qualities for some other MTEs, notably in some of the precision tracking MTEs and the High Speed Accel/Decel MTE. While VMO is not intended for use in precision tracking tasks, some improvements are warranted so that VMO can be used to maximize performance in accelerations without degradation in handling qualities. The benefits of VMO in turn maneuvers, both in terms of performance and handling qualities, are achievable in conjunction with both the inner- and outer-loop control laws of the coaxial compound helicopter.
AB - The Adaptive Digital Automated Pilotage Technology (ADAPTTM) flight control software package aims to take advantage of redundant controls to improve safety, survivability, and performance for advanced rotorcraft. Vehicle Maneuver Optimization (VMO) is one component of the ADAPTTM architecture. VMO uses feedforward control to increase aircraft maneuverability. The VMO algorithm takes advantage of the control null space of over-actuated aircraft to optimize their quasi-steady trim. In this study, the system is applied to a coaxial compound helicopter and evaluated in piloted simulations at the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator and at the Penn State Rotorcraft Simulator. Handling Qualities Ratings indicated that VMO enhanced handling qualities in aggressive MTEs involving turns, as seen in a Break Turn MTE and a customized Maximum Performance Turn MTE. Simulation results also showed that VMO achieved significant power reductions in these maneuvers. VMO was found to degrade handling qualities for some other MTEs, notably in some of the precision tracking MTEs and the High Speed Accel/Decel MTE. While VMO is not intended for use in precision tracking tasks, some improvements are warranted so that VMO can be used to maximize performance in accelerations without degradation in handling qualities. The benefits of VMO in turn maneuvers, both in terms of performance and handling qualities, are achievable in conjunction with both the inner- and outer-loop control laws of the coaxial compound helicopter.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85167662864&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85167662864&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85167662864
T3 - FORUM 2023 - Vertical Flight Society 79th Annual Forum and Technology Display
BT - FORUM 2023 - Vertical Flight Society 79th Annual Forum and Technology Display
PB - Vertical Flight Society
T2 - 79th Vertical Flight Society Annual Forum and Technology Display, FORUM 2023
Y2 - 16 May 2023 through 18 May 2023
ER -