Multiple time scale flight control using re-configurable sliding modes

A dual time scale aircraft flight control problem is addressed via sliding mode control theory. Actuator dynamics, deflection limits and rate limits are addressed via sliding mode controller re-configuration. The designed re-configurable sliding mode controller achieves a robust, high accuracy tracking performance to mission angles (such as attack, sideslip and roll angles) in an outer loop before and after damage to an aircraft. Angular rate commands are robustly tracked in an inner loop. The developed re-configurable control strategy is based on a continuous sliding mode controller with a boundary layer re-configuration. Online explicit damage identification is not required. A re-configurable sliding mode controller is designed for an F-16 jet fighter with a nonlinear flight dynamics model. Computer simulations demonstrate high accuracy tracking performance. Actuator´s deflection and deflection rate do not saturate