A novel robust MPC based aircraft auto-throttle for performing 4D contract flights

A novel robust auto-throttle controller for use within a Four-Dimensional Contract (3D+Time) flight context is introduced. Its design uses typical receding horizon techniques, with control values resulting from optimization of the predicted system response over future time intervals. The novelty is two-fold: First, the controller is designed to optimize the aircraft´s fuel efficiency (represented by the Specific Fuel Consumption-SFC) along with its position during the 4D flight. Second, the control value admits a closed-form expression, which greatly simplifies its on-board calculation. Tests against conventional PID based auto-throttle controllers illustrate the current controller´s superior robustness under challenging flight conditions (turbulence).