ℒ1-adaptive-output feedback based energy control

In this paper longitudinal flight control system is designed based on total energy control system (TECS) using ℒ₁ adaptive control theory. The proposed composite control architecture utilizes the advantages of both ℒ₁ adaptive control and total energy based control. The aircraft is considered as a point model having kinetic energy and potential energy. TECS based on first principle provides an integrated longitudinal flight control architecture. This multi input multi output control law commands throttle and elevator simultaneously to achieve the required tracking and stabilization thereby avoiding significant change in speed or altitude. ℒ₁ adaptive feedback control law is designed such that total energy rate and energy distribution rate follow the reference model to achieve the desired altitude and velocity profile. Simulation studies are made on a fixed wing UAV to show the effectiveness of the proposed control law.