Adaptive Augmentation Of An Optimal Baseline Controller For A Hypersonic Vehicle

The aim of this work is to design an adaptive augmentation of an optimal baseline controller for the flight dynamics of a HSV (HyperSonic Vehicle) using model-reference adaptive control (MRAC). The baseline controller is able to track a bounded input with a desired dynamic and with zero steady state error. The adaptive augmentation is used to compensate the uncertainties, due to a poor knowledge of the physical system, that may degrade the baseline closed-loop performances. The main contribution of this paper is the combination of a MDZM and a projection operator together with two modifications, proposed by the authors, to improve the performances of the closed loop. The adaptive controller has been implemented in Simulink and integrated to a NASA X-30 model. Simulation results are provided to show the effectiveness of the augmented controller notably in presence of aerodynamic uncertainties and control degradations.