A decoupling approach to the design of the two-degree-of-freedom tracking control systems

A general new decoupling configuration of the two-degree-of-freedom tracking control system is presented. In this configuration the closed loop part, that satisfies the regulation requirements, and the prefilter part, that yields the desired command response, can be found independently one from the other. When implemented, each part of the controller does not interfere with the response characteristics that were shaped by the other part. The developed theory is shown to provide a new general conceptual approach for the design of linear tracking control systems. The theory is applied in a design of nominal and decoupled flight control modes of the Control Augmentation System (CAS) for fighter aircrafts.