Project Title:

Integrated Control System for Aerospace Plane Using Stochastic Nonlinear Optimal Control

92-1-09.03-9106                                                   NAS01-19892
Integrated Control System for Aerospace Plane
     Using Stochastic Nonlinear Optimal Control
Neurodyne, Inc.
8 Marlborough Street, Suite 4
Boston, MA  02116
Theresa W. Long                                      (617-437-9106)

Abstract:

     The design of the vehicle control system for an aerospace
plane presents a tremendous challenge due to the strong coupling
between translational, rotational, structural, thermal and engine
dynamics and control, and the extensive range of operating
conditions. While the conventional approach begins by dividing the
overall vehicle control task into subtasks, this approach must be
augmented with higher level controllers that coordinate the lower
level controllers and insure that more global control system
requirements are achieved, such as adaptation and fault tolerance.
This effort will develop and evaluate an integrated controls
approach that combines optimal control methods with neural-
network-based system identification. These techniques will be
applied to the NASA-Langley hypersonic vehicle model. The
investigators will leverage current research programs in neural
computing applications to integrated flight and propulsion control
and NASP thermal management. The system will be developed to
integrate with the ascent guidance logic in a hierarchical manner
using an inner-outer loop configuration developed by the firm for
decentralized control of distributed coolant flow for hypersonic
vehicles.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications:  Adaptation of control systems
to unanticipated changes in aircraft dynamics provides not only a
method for optimal performance over the life of the engine but the
potential ability to reconfigure integrated flight and propulsion
control laws in the event of in-flight damage or failure.
Furthermore, the development of neural software-hardware
optimization methods could significantly enhance future mission
effectiveness of NASA and commercial flight vehicles.

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