Fuzzy robust fault estimation scheme for fault tolerant flight control systems based on unknown input observer

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulay Unal

Purpose The purpose of this study is to present a new integrated structure for a fault tolerant aircraft control system because fault diagnosis of flight control systems is extremely important in obtaining healthy flight. An approach to detect and isolate aircraft sensor faults is proposed, and a new integrated structure for a fault tolerant aircraft control system is presented. Design/methodology/approach As disturbance and sensor faults are mixed together in a flight control system, it is difficult to isolate any fault from the disturbance. This paper proposes a robust unknown input observer for state estimation and fault detection as well as isolation using fuzzy logic. Findings The dedicated observer scheme (DOS) and generalized observer scheme (GOS) are used for fault detection and isolation in an observer-based approach. Using the DOS, it has been shown through simulation that sensor fault detection and isolation can be made, but here the threshold value must be well chosen; if not, the faulty sensor cannot be correctly isolated. On the other hand, the GOS is more usable and flexible than the DOS and allows isolation of faults more correctly and for a fuzzy logic-based controller to be used to realize fault isolation completely. Originality/value The fuzzy logic approach applied to the flight control system adds an important key for sensor fault isolation because it reduces the effect of false alarms and allows the identification of different kinds of sensor faults. The proposed approach can be used for similar systems.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulay Unal

Purpose Fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration of the flight control system is an important problem to obtain healthy flight. This paper aims to propose an integrated approach for aircraft fault-tolerant control. Design/methodology/approach The integrated structure includes a Kalman filter to obtain without noise, a full order observer for sensor fault detection, a GOS (generalized observer scheme) for sensor fault isolation and a fuzzy controller to reconfigure of the healthy sensor. This combination is simulated using the state space model of a lateral flight control system in case of disturbance and under sensor fault scenario. Findings Using a dedicated observer scheme, the detection and time of sensor fault are correct, but the sensor fault isolation is evaluated incorrectly while the faulty sensor is isolated correctly using GOS. The simulation results show that the suggested approach works affectively for sensor faults with disturbance. Originality/value This paper proposes an integrated approach for aircraft fault-tolerant control. Under this framework, three units are designed, one is Kalman filter for filtering and the other is GOS for sensor fault isolation and another is fuzzy logic for reconfiguration. An integrated approach is sensitive to faults that have disturbances. The simulation results show the proposed integrated approach can be used for any linear system.


2016 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 799-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emre Kiyak

Purpose This study aims to present a method for the conceptual design and simulation of an aircraft flight control system. Design/methodology/approach The design methodology is based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). PSO can be used to improve the performance of conventional controllers. The aim of the present study is threefold. First, it attempts to detect and isolate faults in an aircraft model. Second, it is to design a proportional (P) controller, a proportional derivative (PD) controller, a proportional-integral (PI) controller and a fuzzy controller for an aircraft model. Third, it is to design a PD controller for an aircraft using a PSO algorithm. Findings Conventional controllers, an intelligent controller and a PD controller-based PSO were investigated for flight control. It was seen that the P controller, the PI controller and the PD controller-based PSO caused overshoot. These overshoots were 18.5, 87.7 and 2.6 per cent, respectively. Overshoot was not seen using the PD controller or fuzzy controller. Steady state errors were almost zero for all controllers. The PD controller had the best settling time. The fuzzy controller was second best. The PD controller-based PSO was the third best, but the result was close to the others. Originality/value This study shows the implementation of the present algorithm for a specified space mission and also for study regarding variation of performance parameters. This study shows fault detection and isolation procedures and also controller gain choice for a flight control system. A comparison between conventional controllers and PD-based PSO controllers is presented. In this study, sensor fault detection and isolation are carried out, and, also, root locus, time domain analysis and Routh–Hurwitz methods are used to find the conventional controller gains which differ from other studies. A fuzzy controller is created by the trial and error method. Integral of squared time multiplied by squared error is used as a performance function type in PSO.


2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-270
Author(s):  
Firat Sal

Purpose The purpose of this paper presents the effects of actively morphing root chord and taper on the energy of the flight control system (i.e. FCS). Design/methodology/approach Via regarding previously mentioned purposes, sophisticated and realistic helicopter models are benefitted to examine the energy of the FCS. Findings Helicopters having actively morphing blade root chord length and blade taper consume less control energy than the ones having one of or any of passively morphing blade root chord length and blade taper. Practical implications Actively morphing blade root chord length and blade taper can be used for cheaper helicopter operations. Originality/value The main originality of this paper is applying active morphing strategy on helicopter blade root chord and blade taper. In this paper, it is also found that using active morphing strategy on helicopter blade root chord and blade taper reasons less energy consumption than using either passively morphing blade root chord length plus blade taper or not any. This causes also less fuel consumption and green environment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-419
Author(s):  
Jerzy Graffstein ◽  
Piotr Maslowski

Purpose The main purpose of this work was elaboration and verification of a method of assessing the sensitivity of automatic control laws to parametric uncertainty of an airplane’s mathematical model. The linear quadratic regulator (LQR) methodology was used as an example design procedure for the automatic control of an emergency manoeuvre. Such a manoeuvre is assumed to be pre-designed for the selected airplane. Design/methodology/approach The presented method of investigating the control systems’ sensitivity comprises two main phases. The first one consists in computation of the largest variations of gain factors, defined as differences between their nominal values (defined for the assumed model) and the values obtained for the assumed range of parametric uncertainty. The second phase focuses on investigating the impact of the variations of these factors on the behaviour of automatic control in the manoeuvre considered. Findings The results obtained allow for a robustness assessment of automatic control based on an LQR design. Similar procedures can be used to assess in automatic control arrived at through varying design methods (including methods other than LQR) used to control various manoeuvres in a wide range of flight conditions. Practical implications It is expected that the presented methodology will contribute to improvement of automatic flight control quality. Moreover, such methods should reduce the costs of the mathematical nonlinear model of an airplane through determining the necessary accuracy of the model identification process, needed for assuring the assumed control quality. Originality/value The presented method allows for the investigation of the impact of the parametric uncertainty of the airplane’s model on the variations of the gain-factors of an automatic flight control system. This also allows for the observation of the effects of such variations on the course of the selected manoeuvre or phase of flight. This might be a useful tool for the design of crucial elements of an automatic flight control system.


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