Date of Award:

8-2022

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Douglas Hunsaker

Committee

Douglas Hunsaker

Committee

Stephen Whitmore

Committee

Matthew Harris

Committee

David Geller

Committee

James Joo

Abstract

Advanced aircraft designs tend to have several control surfaces or devices that affect the flight of the aircraft. It is difficult or even impossible for a pilot to directly control each of these devices and fly the aircraft well. Therefore, a control mapping logic is needed to take typical pilot commands and map them to what the control devices should do to achieve the pilot’s commands. This work presents a methodology for determining this control mapping logic using two different approaches. The first uses a theoretical approach based on lifting-line theory, while the second leverages computational methods. The methodology consists of computing optimal control configurations for a wide range of flight conditions and then curve fitting that data to obtain control mapping functions that act as the control mapping logic. Example results are given for a typical aircraft configuration as well as a flying wing configuration.

Checksum

79935000a05b2ae2b6808f44891b516b

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