Development and simulation of an F/A-18 fuzzy logic automatic carrier landing system

The author describes the development and simulation of a fuzzy logic automatic carrier landing system (FACLS) for the F/A-18 aircraft. The FACLS controls the three-dimensional flight path, speed, sink rate, and angular attitudes to allow a safe shipboard landing. The FACLS has limited control authority and is required to cope with carrier motion, air turbulence, sensor noise and delays, and the carrier´s air wake. Fuzzy logic was used to create a system that combines elements of human pilot intelligence with more conventional automatic control laws. To do this, the FACLS has six fuzzy logic rule bases embedded in a classical control structure. The FACLS was tested in simulation and compared with the more conventional F/A-18 automatic carrier landing system. Results suggest significant benefits from fuzzy logic in both guidance and control tasks for aircraft outer loop control