Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
This paper deals with the problem of determining an optimal controller which minimises the norm of a given aircraft while guaranteeing that an upper limit of its norm is not exceeded. The problem is tackled by means of a linear matrix inequality formulation, which allows one to constrain the eigenvalues of the model to within a fixed region of the complex plane. Key features of the method are the possibility of simultaneously
1. keeping the maximum value of the input demand under control
2. taking flying quality requirements into account
3. assuring a minimum level of system robustness against uncertainties of the model.
The approach is simple to handle and is well suited to the design of aircraft stability augmentation systems. A discussion of two case studies demonstrates the effectiveness of the procedure.