Neuro-variable structure flight control of reusable launch vehicles

This paper is concerned with the development of robust nonlinear control algorithms for reusable launch vehicle (RLV), a highly nonlinear system with external disturbances and dynamic uncertainties due to varying flight conditions. A new robust control scheme for autopilot of RL V in both ascent and decent modes is derived. This scheme employs a rather simple algorithm and demands no linearization or estimation on any bounded function, its effectiveness is verified via simulation.