Single Network Adaptive Critic (SNAC) Architecture for Optimal Tracking Control of a Morphing Aircraft during a Pull-up Maneuver
Wilfred Nobleheart, Geethalakshmi Shivanapura Lakshmikanth, Animesh Chakravarthy, James E. Steck · AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Conference · 2013
In this paper, we discuss the application of a Single Network Adaptive Critic (SNAC) tracking controller on a morphing fighter aircraft modeled as a time-varying system. The performance of the aircraft is investigated from a flight dynamics perspective during a pull-up maneuver; and the time scale over which the morphing occurs is of the same order as the flight dynamics, due to which the influence of time-varying effects is significant. The time varying dynamical equations are adopted for a fighter aircraft which is assumed to be equipped with a variable-sweep wing. The SNAC controller is implemented on the longitudinal dynamic model of this aircraft. The neural network is trained to provide optimal tracking control over the aircraft flight envelope state space as the wing is swept along a specific morphing trajectory during the maneuver.