An expert system for control system design

The Control Laws Expert Assistant for Rotorcraft (CLEAR) project, which is being performed at Temple University and the Boeing Helicopters Company, is described. CLEAR will assist flight control engineers to design a specific set of flight control systems. The resulting interactive knowledge-based system will analyze mathematical models representing rotorcraft and will design any compensation required to enable the system to meet specifications. There are two major roles that CLEAR plays in the design of a rotorcraft flight control system. First CLEAR determines what kind of compensation, if any, is needed. It then places the compensator at an appropriate location within the system and designs the required compensator. The authors focus on the work being performed at Temple University to give CLEAR its design capability. The rationale for using a knowledge-based system is presented, and the CLEAR architecture is described