VTOL Aircraft Control Output Tracking Sensitivity Design

A method is presented for reducing trajectory sensitivity and achieving robust asymptotic tracking for linear feedback systems when there are parameter perturbations and disturbance inputs. The controller consists of a servocompensator containing the modes of the reference signals and disturbance inputs, a stabilizing feedback loop, and a feedforward compensator. Application of the method to the design of a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft flight control system is discussed. The use of a precompensator allows performance maneuvers such that the aircraft tracks desired trajectories and the feedforward and feedback signals aid in reducing the trajectory sensitivity to variations of parameters due to change in airspeed and to wind gust. Simulation results are presented to show the robust tracking, disturbance rejection, and sensitivity reduction capabilities of the flight control system.