Very Flexible Aircraft Control Challenge Problem

This paper provides a linearized dynamics model of a generic very flexible aircraft (VFA) at a prescribed flight condition that may be used for control design challenges. The availability of such a high-fidelity model in the public domain is intended to provide a common focus for research in control techniques for VFA platforms. Figures showing vehicle geometry, surfaces, and relevant sign conventions are included. VFA control design problems and their associated challenges are introduced. I. Introduction igh-altitude, long endurance aircraft are being considered for missions that include unprecedented endurance goals, on the order of years. This aggressive goal requires significant technology development, especially in the area of control of highly flexible flight structures. Such light, very flexible structures often contain significant aerodynamic-structural coupling that complicate modeling and control design. Inspired by previous control challenge papers such as [1], this paper presents a public domain, high-fidelity linearized dynamics model of a VFA pl atform intended to be useful for controls and guidance design applications. The linear data referenced throughout this paper may be accessed without restriction at: http://www.inncontech.com/. H