Flight Tests of a Microprocessor Control System

Robert F. Stengel, George E. Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Flight experiments with a microprocessor control system have been conducted. The purposes of these tests were to provide information which will assist the development of flying qualities criteria for digital control systems and to investigate engineering characteristics of the research system. Four test pilots evaluated the effects of digital control system parameter variations on a research aircraft's longitudinal flying qualities during tracking and landing tasks. Critical ranges of sampling rate, quantization level, and time delay were identified as functions of the piloting tasks. In the subject aircraft, the limits for satisfactory control appear to be sampling rates of 4-10/s, control word lengths of 4-8 bits, and equivalent time delays of 50-250 ms, depending upon the task. Satisfactory flying qualities at lower sampling rates and resolution can be achieved with command and stability augmentation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)494-500
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics
Volume3
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1980

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Space and Planetary Science

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