Placement of Failure-Prone Components on Flexible Structures: A Degree of Controllability Approach

To meet increased performance requirements, modern spacecraft and aircraft rely on ever more sophisticated control functions, performed by digital fly-by-wire systems. The issue of Reliability then becomes very sensitive since the mission must not be vulnerable to failures of components like actuators and sensors. The purpose of this communication is to introduce a suitable framework for the design of Reliable Flight Control Systems and to discuss in some details the placement of failure-prone actuators to maximise a Degree of Controllability.