Structured Singular Value Synthesis Design Example: Rocket Stabilization

The structured singular value synthesis methodology is applied to generate a stabilization control law for a rocket ascending through the earth´s atmosphere. The control law stabilizes the inherent unstable pitching motions of the elastic vehicle by vectoring the thrust in response to motion sensed by a pitch rate gyroscope. There is Significant structured uncertainty in the modeled elastic and rigid body dynamics. The control law for the rocket stabilization example employs classical phase stabilization for the lowest elastic mode and gain stabilization for the higher frequency modes. The similarities and differences of this control law compared to a more traditional control law are discussed.