Robust Gain-Scheduled Control for Planar V/STOL Aircraft with Time-Varying Mass and Moment Parameters

This paper considers a robust gain-scheduled control approach for the planar vertical takeoff aircraft dynamics. The uncertain property of the aircraft mass, moment, and the non-minimum phase parasitic coupling are all addressed by considering their reasonable range in the progress of controller design. An approach of composite control law is performed addressing all the inherent uncertainties of the mass, moment, and parasitic coupling parameter. The composite control law consists of a linear state-feedback gain-scheduled matrix and a nonlinear control law for thrust manipulation to eliminate the effect of gravitational disturbance. The design is then demonstrated by time response simulation.