A simulator evaluation of a model-reference sliding mode fault tolerant controller

This paper describes the real-time implementation of a model-reference sliding mode control allocation scheme on the SIMONA flight simulator. The scheme allows automatic redistribution of the control signals to the remaining functioning actuators when a fault or failure occurs. The system's closed-loop stability under certain classes of faults and failures is analyzed. It is shown that faults and even certain total actuator failures can be handled directly without reconfiguring the controller. The results obtained from the SIMONA show good performance in both nominal and failure scenarios.