Researchers: | Adam Cataldo, Xiaojun Liu, and Zhongning Chen |
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Advisor: | Edward A. Lee |
In the future, all aircraft are likely to use fly-by-wire systems, where pilot controls are mediated by computers, rather than being mechanically or hydraulically connected to the aircraft control surfaces. We are designing our control system for fly-by-wire aircraft. The aircraft will carry a three-dimensional model of the earth’s surface, augmented with the no-fly zones. The model will change only when the no-fly zones change. One of our design principles is to give the pilot as much control as possible, subject to the constraint that the aircraft can never enter the no-fly zone.
We have developed a control algorithm for two-dimensional infinite wall [2]. This algorithm uses a simplified model of the aircraft dynamics and adds a bias to the pilot's control as the aircraft gets near the no-fly zone. The bias is increased and decreased gradually, and the algorithm is provably safe, that is, the aircraft can never enter the no-fly zone. Our next goal is to find a control algorithm which works for any convex, two-dimensional no-fly zone.
For more information, see the Soft Walls website at
http://ptolemy.eecs.berkeley.edu/projects/softwalls/
[1] Edward A. Lee, "Soft Walls - Modifying Flight Control Systems to Limit the Flight Space of Commercial Aircraft (Draft 2),"Revised from Technical Memorandum UCB/ERL M01/31, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, October 3, 2001.
[2] J. Adam Cataldo, Edward A. Lee, and Xiaojun Liu, "Preliminary Version of a Two-Dimensional Technical Specification for Softwalls," Technical Memorandum UCB/ERL M02/9, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, April 17, 2002.
Last updated 11/18/02