An Expert System to Perform On-Line Controller Restructuring for Abrupt Model Changes

Abstract

Work in progress on an expert system used to reconfigure and tune airframe/engine control systems on-line in real time in response to battle damage or structural failures is presented. The closed loop system is monitored constantly for changes in structure and performance, the detection of which prompts the expert system to choose and apply a particular control restructuring algorithm based on the type and severity of the damage. Each algorithm is designed to handle specific types of failures and each is applicable only in certain situations. The expert systems uses information about the system model to identify the failure and to select the technique best suited to compensate for it. A depth-first search is used to find a solution. Once the new controller is designed and implemented it must be tuned to recover the original closed-loop handling qualities and responsiveness from the degraded system. Ideally, the pilot should not be able to tell the difference between the original and redesigned systems. The key is that the system must have inherent redundancy so that degraded or missing capabilities can be restored by creative use of alternate functionalities. With enough redundancy in the control system, minor battle damage affecting individual control surfaces or actuators, compressor efficiency, etc. can be compensated for such that the closed-loop performance is not noticeably altered. The work is applied to a Black Hawk/T700 system. (Author) (kr)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA228551

Entities

People

  • Johathan S. Litt

Organizations

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Actuators
  • Aeronautics
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Algorithms
  • Army Aviation
  • Closed Loop Systems
  • Control Surfaces
  • Control Systems
  • Expert Systems
  • Helicopters
  • Identification
  • Inference Engines
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Simulations
  • Specifications

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Mathematics or Statistics