Design, Flight Simulation, and Handling Qualities Evaluation of an LPV Gain-Scheduled Helicopter Flight Control System

Abstract

This paper summarises a recent project involving the design, piloted simulation, and handling qualities evaluation of a linear parameter varying (LPV) gain-scheduled helicopter flight control law. The work was jointly carried out by the Control Systems Research group of Leicester University and the Advanced Engineering group of GKN Westland Helicopters, Yeovil, England. The controller design was based on a Lynx MK7 helicopter model and used the quadratic H ∞ performance methodology with a 2-degrees-of-freedom controller to achieve robustness and good handling qualities across a large region of operation. In an off-line computer analysis, the controller consistently achieved Levell Cooper–Harper handling qualities ratings. A series offlight simulations were performed by two test pilots on GKN Westland's Advanced Engineering Simulation Facility. Both pilots consistently awarded Level 1 handling qualities ratings for the LPV gain-scheduled controller. The paper is tutorial in nature, it presents a novel application, and it demonstrates the potential of LPV methods for designing practical gain-scheduled controllers.