Experimental Demonstration of Model Based Control of a Nonlinear Aircraft Arresting System

This paper presents a model-based robust controller and a subscale experimental demonstration for a subscale motor driven aircraft carrier arresting system. Sensors in the system are limited with no sensors on the aircraft being controlled. The uncertainty in the aircraft’s orientation and position, the long mechanical linkages, along with the nonlinear dynamics and limited sensors, result in control design challenges. The control method is based on an adaptive linear quadratic Gaussian/loop transfer recovery control algorithm that regulates >10 MJ of pulsed energy with MW power transients. The design method generates a controller with good tracking performance for the aircraft position and velocity and successfully arrests the aircraft within cable tension bounds.