Adaptive pitch control of a six degree-of-freedom ducted-fan aircraft

The improved agility and performance of modern aircraft has led to a re-evaluation of many control techniques and the requisite for more contemporary methods capable of providing consistent handling qualities. Offering robust control in the face of both parametric and unstructured uncertainty, this paper details the application of a neural network-based controller to a twin ducted fan aircraft. Augmenting the existing pitch and altitude controller, the step response of the system is examined within the nominal flight regime and at the bounds of the aircraft´s flight envelope. No a priori knowledge of the system dynamics is assumed.