Information fusion estimation–based flight control of a nonlinear jumbo jet under wind disturbance

Abstract

SummaryWind disturbance has a large impact on the safety and comfort of jumbo jets. An information fusion estimation–based control method, which is based on the linearization‐based design strategy, is proposed for the flight control of a nonlinear jumbo jet to restrain wind disturbance. A complete nonlinear model of the jumbo jet is developed based on the aerodynamic data and parameters of a Boeing jumbo jet. An information fusion control (IFC) scheme based on information fusion estimation is presented for the nonzero‐state tracking problem of the linear system with disturbance. The IFC scheme fuses the information of desired future states, desired control inputs, system dynamic equations, and performance index function. IFC is applied in the automatic flight control system of the jumbo jet to design the longitudinal flight controller and lateral flight controller. Simulation results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the IFC in the flight control of the jumbo jet, as compared with the PID control and the traditional linear quadratic optimal control.