Control of Aerospace Systems

Control of Aerospace Systems (251 - 15346)
Study: Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering
Semester 2/Spring Semester
3RD Year Course/Upper Division

Compentences and Skills that will be Acquired and Learning Results:

With this subject the students are aimed to acquire basic knowledge on analysis and control of dynamic systems in continuous time, with application to aerospace systems. The study of the behavior of the systems will be carried out by means of the classic control theory.

Description of Contents: Course Description

1. Laplace transform

1.1. Definition
1.2. Properties
1.3. Inverse transform

2. System modeling: transfer function

2.1. Definition of the transfer function
2.2. Solution of the dynamics of a system through the transfer function
2.3. Limitations of the transfer function

3. System modeling: state space

3.1. Definition of the state space
3.2. Solution of the state equation
3.3. Cannonical forms of the state space
3.4. Transformation between state space and transfer function

4. Stability and feedback: systems characterization

4.1. Definition of stability for a dynamic system
4.2. Variables for the stability analysis of a dynamic system

5. Stability and feedback analysis in time domain

5.1. Definition of stability in the time domain
5.2. Methods for stability analysis in the time domain

6. Stability and feedback analysis in frequency domain

6.1. Definition of stability in the frequency domain
6.2. Methods for stability analysis in the frequency domain

7. Aircraft systems fundamentals

7.1. Control system for an aircraft
7.2. Sensors and actuators in an aircraft
7.3. Quality factors characterizing the aircraft dynamics
7.4. Properties of a control loop for the aircraft

8. Aircraft dynamics (I)

8.1. Longitudinal model of an aircraft
8.2. Longitudinal modes of an aircraft

9. Aircraft dynamics (II)

9.1. Lateral model of an aircraft
9.2. Lateral modes of an aircraft

10. PID controllers: design methods

10.1. Definition of a PID controller
10.2. Effects of the PID control actions
10.3. Desing of PID controllers: empirical and analytical methods

11. Nonlinear systems: describing function

11.1. Definition of the describing function
11.2. Characteristics of the describing function

12. Nonlinear systems: stability analysis (I)

12.1. Analysis of the stability of the nonlinear system by the describing function in the frequency domain

13. Nonlinear systems: stability analysis (II)

13.1. Analysis of the stability of the nonlinear system by the phase plane in the time domain

Learning Activities and Methodology:

- Master clasess and reduced group sessions for resolution of problems.
- 4 Laboratory sessions with personal work of the student; oriented to the acquisition of practical abilities related to the program of the subject.
- Personal tutorial sessions in the times published in Aula Global 2.

Assessment System:

The continuous evaluation is done through two partial exams:

* If the student passes both exams, it is not necessary to do the recovery exam of the continuous evaluation. If the student still wants to do to the recovery exam to improve his/her marks, the previous note will be erased, only the recovery exam counts.
* If the student fails one of the partial exams, this part must be done in the recovery exam. The average between the recovery exam (pass or failed) and the passed partial exam is computed. If the score is 5 or greater, the theoretical part is passed.
* If the student fails both partial exams, the whole recovery exam must be done. The theoretical mark will be the score of the final exam.

Regarding the practical part, it is also necessary to pass it (5 or greater). A report for every practice must be done by the student (evaluated as passed or failed) together with a test for every practical session (minimum mark of 5 to pass every test). If any practical report or test is failed, the student will be able to recover it in the recovery exam of the continuous evaluation, following the same evaluation criteria as for the theoretical part.

The final score of the continuous evaluation is composed of the theoretical part (70% of the final score) and the practical part (30% of the final score). But it is important to remark that this subject will be passed only if both theoretical and practical parts are passed separately.

The extraordinary exam will have a theorical part and a practical part, which will be evaluated in the same way as in the recovery exam of the continuous evaluation in the ordinary call (70% theory and 30% practices). If the student has passed the practical part in the ordinary call, his/her mark will be saved and taken into account for the extraordinay exam.

Basic Bibliography:

Concepción A. Monje. Lecture Notes. NA.
Cook, M. V. . Flight Dynamics Principles. Elsevier. 2007
DiStefano et al. . Feedback and Control Systems. McGrawHill. 1990
Kuo, B. C.. Automatic Control Systems. Prentice-Hall. 1991
MOHLER, R.R.. Nonlinear systems. Dynamics and Control.. Prentice-Hall, 1991..
McLean, D. . Automatic Flight Control Systems. Prentice-Hall. 1990
OGATA, K.. Modern Control Theory. Prentice-Hall, 1987.