Finite-time Flight Path Tracking Control Based on Differential Flatness

The flight control system is the core part of the aircraft. Difficult flight missions drive the flight control system design to achieve better flight performance. However, the tightly coupled and highly nonlinear model prevents the application of conventional linear control methods. In this research, differential flatness method is applied to the linearization of the longitudinal model of aircraft, and a finite-time convergent controller is designed for the nominal linearized model. Then, in order to eliminate the disturbance caused by precise model derivation, an integral sliding mode controller is added to deal with the uncertainty of the system. Finally, the effectiveness of the control method proposed in this paper is validated through case study.