An appropriate application of fuzzy logic: a missile autopilot for dual control implementation

A controller designed with fuzzy logic can nonlinearly map input error states to output control command actions while conventional state space methods are limited to a planar correlations between the input error, the output command and the previous value of the output command. This paper presents an example application where it is desirable to use this attribute of fuzzy logic. A pitch plane autopilot is designed for a supersonic missile simultaneously using aft fin and forward propulsive control. An ambiguously stated performance index involving response and divert performance and energy usage is achieved and demonstrated to require a nonlinear correlation between the input and output of the controller