Stability Augmentation and Active Flutter Suppression of a Flexible Flying-Wing Drone

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Persistent link to this item

Statistics
View Statistics

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Title

Stability Augmentation and Active Flutter Suppression of a Flexible Flying-Wing Drone

Published Date

2015-05-19

Publisher

Type

Working Paper

Abstract

Integrated control laws are developed for stability augmentation and active flutter suppression (AFS) of a flexible, flying-wing drone. The vehicle is a 12-pound unmanned, flying- wing research aircraft with a 10 ft wingspan. AFS is flight critical since the subject vehicle is designed to flutter within its flight envelope. The critical flutter condition involves aeroelastic interactions between the rigid-body and elastic degrees of freedom; hence the control laws must simultaneously address both rigid-body stability augmentation and flutter suppression. The control-synthesis approach is motivated by the concept of Identically Located Force and Acceleration (ILAF), successfully applied on some previous operational aircraft. Based on the flutter characteristics and on conventional stability-augmentation concepts, two simple loop closures are suggested. It is shown that this control architecture robustly stabilizes the body- freedom-flutter condition, increases the damping of the second aeroelastic mode (which becomes a second flutter mode at higher velocity), and provides reasonably conventional vehicle pitch- attitude response. The critical factors limiting the performance of the feedback system are identified to be the bandwidth of the surface actuators and the pitch effectiveness of the control surfaces.

Description

Related to

Replaces

License

Series/Report Number

Funding information

NASA NRA, "Lightweight Adaptive Aeroelastic Wing for Enhanced Performance Across the Flight Envelope," NRA NNX14AL36A, Mr. John Bosworth Technical Monitor.

Isbn identifier

Doi identifier

Previously Published Citation

Suggested citation

Schmidt, David. (2015). Stability Augmentation and Active Flutter Suppression of a Flexible Flying-Wing Drone. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/172718.

Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.