Efficient Predictive Flight Control

This paper introduces an efficient predictive control algorithm applied to aircraft flight control. The algorithm is based on characterizing the predicted response of the system though the use of a direct solution to the state transition matrix found via Eigen-values and Eigen-vectors. The structure and formulation of the controller is discussed in some detail, as well as its application in constrained and unconstrained systems. An overview of tuning guidelines is presented with respect to desired length of the prediction horizon, the number of prediction points and system weights. Demonstration of the proposed predictive control algorithm on a numerical aircraft simulation will be performed comparing the performance of the aircraft under various configurations.