INDIVIDUAL CHANNEL ANALYSIS AND HELICOPTER FLIGHT CONTROL IN MODERATE AND LARGE AMPLITUDE MANOEUVRES

摘要

Non-linear simulation is used to assess the performance of a fixed linear helicopter flight control law in manoeuvres which are expected to be outside the linear regime. The design of the control law was based on linear considerations, and is analysed using Individual Channel Analysis. This technique clarifies the conditions under which classical frequency domain based analysis can be applied to multivariable systems, with some assurance that robustness problems associated with loop interaction will not occur. The study provides evidence that Individual Channel Analysis can be used to assess the robustness of multivariable control systems with respect to smooth non-linearities.