Robust sliding-mode control for the uncertain MIMO aircraft model F-18

Robust flight control laws based on variable structure control (VSC) theory and Lyapunov V-function method are designed for a simplified aircraft model F-18. A min-max control (MMC) and VSC laws are derived, for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems with plant uncertainties and input disturbance. Two types of robust feedback controllers MMC and VSC for uncertain MIMO systems are considered. For both cases the existence conditions of a stable sliding mode and the robust asymptotic stability in uncertain MIMO systems by MMC and VSC are investigated. For the design of an MMC and VSC, measurable states and sliding surface are chosen so that the zero dynamics of the system are stable. An application of tracking and positioning of VSC of longitudinal dynamics is presented. Finally, simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the design methods.