High-gain PI control of an aircraft lateral control system

A new qualitative system concept called natural trackability is presented in the framework of time-invariant linear MIMO systems. The control and output dimensions may differ, however, there may not be fewer controls than outputs. Natural trackability assures the existence of a control that can be synthesized without using any information about the plant internal dynamics. This control can force the output to reach and maintain the desired output (tracking) in a finite time. Such a high-gain control guaranteeing a prespecified exponential tracking quality is then synthesized for naturally trackable plants with different control and output dimensions. Such a control is called high-gain natural tracking control. The theory is applied to the synthesis of natural tracking control for the lateral motion of an aircraft. The aircraft control structure is altered to demonstrate high-gain natural tracking control with more control inputs than outputs.