DFRC-1045 · Integrated Resilient Aircraft Control Project Full Scale Flight Validation

NASA (NTRS) · 2009

Open the PDFPublic domain · NASA (NTRS)Technical Reports

Overview

Objective: Provide validation of adaptive control law concepts through full scale flight evaluation. Technical Approach: a) Engage failure mode - destabilizing or frozen surface. b) Perform formation flight and air-to-air tracking tasks. Evaluate adaptive algorithm: a) Stability metrics. b) Model…

Pages: 10

Key points

The Integrated Resilient Aircraft Control Project aims to validate adaptive control law concepts through full-scale flight evaluations.
The project involves engaging failure modes, performing formation flight, and evaluating adaptive algorithms.
Future flights for the project will utilize the F/A-18 #853 testbed.
The project includes objectives to validate adaptive control technology using manned flight experiments and to examine the benefits of manned versus autonomous recovery.
Full-scale flight testing is essential for validating different adaptive flight control approaches and enhancing aircraft resilience.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main objective of the Integrated Resilient Aircraft Control Project?

The main objective is to provide validation of adaptive control law concepts through full-scale flight evaluation.

What aircraft will be used for future flights in this project?

Future flights will be conducted using the F/A-18 #853 testbed.

What are the key objectives outlined in the RFI?

The key objectives include validating adaptive control technology using manned flight experiments, examining the benefits of manned versus autonomous recovery, and testing system-level reasoning for flight control reconfiguration.

Why is full-scale flight testing important for this project?

Full-scale flight testing provides the ability to validate different adaptive flight control approaches and adds credibility to NASA's research efforts.

What types of experiments will be conducted in this project?

Experiments will address challenges that can only be tackled by manned flight, examine pilot input types, and test detection and diagnosis technologies for control reconfiguration.

Document

Integrated Resilient Aircraft Control Project Full Scale Flight Validation NESC GN&C Face-to-Face in Chicago John Bosworth, VVMT Co-API August 2009 NESC August 2009

Full-Scale Flight Test Overview

• Objective - Provide validation of adaptive control law concepts through full scale flight evaluation.

• Technical Approach - Engage failure mode –destabilizing or frozen surface.

- Perform formation flight and air-to-air tracking tasks - Evaluate adaptive algorithm Stability metrics - - Model following metrics NESC August 2009

NASA N F-15 B #837

yam."> _ ^, ^. ^ l ^ S ^^ _ 1 7 ^.,.4 ^^.^^___ ^^ • Last flight flown on Jan 30, 2009 – Indirect adaptive (Gen 1) – 1999 –Direct adaptive (Gen 2) – 2006 –Improved direct adaptive (Gen2a/b) – 2008 • Future flights will be on F/A-18 #853 Video from F 15 Flight Test https://mars.ndc.nasa.gov/cpx/dsweb/View/Collection-46/Document-450057 NESC August 2009 Gen2 & Gen2a Sigma Pi Flight Results Gen2 Results: Bank-to-Bank Gen2a Results: Bank-to-Bank Note: Reduced Tracking errors for similar Pilot Inputs NESC August 2009 IRAC F-18 #853 Testbed Dedicated Ghz processor for experiment • Shell &process for Simulink autocode (or c-code) • Can control commands to: • All aero surfaces (except speed brake) All pilot inputs Both engine throttles independently • Limit checks done by Class A software in RFCS • Potential for Class A experiment (dual ARTS IV or in quad RFCS) – take to landing?

• Tons of research instrumentation parameters • Simulated failure of multiple control surfaces NESC August 2009

Experiment Peer Review Process

• Brainstorming within NASA • Release an RFI for feedback and other ideas from Industry / Academia • Workshop with Industry / Academia – possibly St. Louis at ACC time ^ ----_. _ . ....:—^:. _ ....^:- • Final selection by NASA ^^^ • Flights in 2011 • Continue process for next experiments NESC August 2009 RFI Objectives • Objective 1: To validate adaptive control technology using manned flight experiments – Experiments addressing: • Challenges that can only be addressed by manned flight • Address barriers to implementation • Sufficiently large (or meaningful) failures • Objective 2: To examine the benefits of manned Vs autonomous recovery – Experiments addressing: • Types of pilot input to system • Separate, backup, or primary flight control implementation • Interactive adaptive NESC August 2009 RFI Objectives • Objective 3: To test and validate system-level reasoning for flight control reconfiguration – Experiments addressing: • Detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and isolation technologies for control reconfiguration and envelope limiting controls NESC August 2009

Conclusions

• Full scale flight testing provides an ability to validate different adaptive flight control approaches • Full scale flight testing adds credence to NASA’s research efforts • A sustained research effort is required remove the road blocks and provide adaptive control as a viable design solution for increase aircraft resilience.

NESC August 2009