Explicit model following trajectory control system for a transitioning urban air mobility aircraft

This paper describes a full-envelope Trajectory Control System with explicit model following architecture for a lift-plus-cruise configuration. The flight control system is optimized using a genetic algorithm with constraints on dynamic stability, stability margins, and control response. The optimized architecture is used to perform nonlinear simulations of representative operational maneuvers. In particular, transitions between vertical, hybrid, transition, and forward flight modes along climbing departure and descending arrival profiles are demonstrated both in calm air and turbulence. The results show that the proposed flight control laws and optimization scheme are effective at achieving smooth, accurate, and robust control system performance over the speed envelope of the vehicle.