THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNIQUES FOR FLIGHT CONTROL
Abstract
The usefulness of digital techniques in the flight control systems of aircraft, missiles, and space vehicles is considered. The discussion is in terms of basic attitude control loops, and does not extend to outer loops used for guidance or navigation. It is pointed out that there are various techniques and types of equipment to which the word digital is applied. The discussion then considers in turn the various forms of input command and their influence, sensors, analog-digital and digital-analog converters, computers and computing methods for the attitude control task, and actuating devices for producing control moments. The choices between analog and digital methods are engineering decisions to be made in the light of various design requirements for each specific case. The problem of conversion between analog and digital information appears as a key point. For proper attitude control in the presence of structural vibrations, a high sampling and computing rate is necessary. Digital techniques provide accuracy, freedom from drift, insensitivity to stray noise, and adaptability to automatic checkout. They are well suited to implementation of nonlinear and adaptive control systems. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0262170
Entities
People
- J.n. Ball
Organizations
- Calspan