Pitch control of the space shuttle training aircraft

A set of shuttle training aircrafts (STAs) are used by NASA to train astronaut pilots to land the space shuttle after returning from orbit. The STA simulates the dynamics of the much larger and heavier space shuttle with the help of some hardware and software modifications. We present a STA controll...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on control systems technology 2001-05, Vol.9 (3), p.542-551
Main Authors: Berenji, H.R., Saraf, S., Ping-Wei Chang, Swanson, S.R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerospace control
Aircraft
Control systems
Control theory
Error correction
Feedforward
Hardware
NASA
PD control
Phase error
Proportional control
Simulation
Space shuttles
Training aircraft
Trajectory
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Summary:A set of shuttle training aircrafts (STAs) are used by NASA to train astronaut pilots to land the space shuttle after returning from orbit. The STA simulates the dynamics of the much larger and heavier space shuttle with the help of some hardware and software modifications. We present a STA controller that tracks the shuttle pitch trajectory. Our control system includes a feedforward controller based on zero phase error tracking control and a fuzzy proportional derivative (PD) feedback controller. Test results on a ground hardware simulator used at the Ellington Field of NASA Johnson Space Center show that the new controller significantly reduces pitch following errors between the shuttle and the STA, when compared to the existing controller.
ISSN:1063-6536
1558-0865
DOI:10.1109/87.918906