Sliding mode control: overview and
applications to aerospace control
shtessel@ece.uah.edu
Abstract
Sliding Mode Control is a powerful robust nonlinear control technique that has been is intensively developed during last 30 years.
Aerospace vehicle control is a very challenging control problem that is characterized by highly nonlinear mathematical models with modeling uncertainties and external disturbances. In the same time high accuracy robust control design is required.
Reusable launch vehicle and tailless aircraft control problems are discussed. The designed robust sliding mode controller significantly reduces the time and cost associated with flying to new orbits, with new payloads, and with modified vehicles.
The dual-time scale sliding mode controller was designed for the X-33 technology demonstration sub-orbital launch vehicle in the launch and entry modes. Simulation results show that the controller provides robust, accurate, de-coupled tracking of the orientation angle command profiles in ascent and descent in presence of external disturbances, vehicle inertia uncertainties and rocket engine failure.
The reconfigurable multiple-time-scale sliding mode control technique is applied to a flight controller design using flight dynamics model of a tailless jet fighter that was developed under the Innovative Control Effectors program. Simulations demonstrate high accuracy robust tracking performance of a tailless aircraft executing prescribed maneuvers with damaged aerodynamic surfaces.