Design of complex trajectories tracking systems for commercial aircraft

Abstract

The air traffic growth in the world ?s main airpor ts generates airspace saturation problems and in- creases the noise annoyance over the population in airport ? s surrounding areas. This has lead researchers to look for new solutions based on the pre-definition of low-noise trajectories compatible with the foreseen traffic ca- pacity at the airports. These trajectories may become difficult to be followed by aircraft equipped with classic control systems, based on the sequenc ing of elementary control modes fo r both vertical and horizontal move- ments. Thus, we propose to demonstrate the feasibility of the design of flight control systems capable of accu- rately following this new type of trajectory. In order to do so, we consider that the mathematical model of an aircraft flight guidance dynamics encompasses a differen tial property defined as diffe rential flatness, which al- lows the design of adequate guidance controls through dy namic inversion. So we present a method for the de- sign of trajectory tracking systems for commercial airc raft based on differential fl atness. Starting from a model of the aircraft guidance dynamics, sufficient conditions are defined so that the differential flatness property is met. Indeed, such conditions are met by current different types of commercial aircraft in regular flight condi- tions. Then, due to the complexity of the proposed approach , an artificial neural networ k is used to numerically solve the problem. The results are obtained and validated based on the Integrated Noise Model (INM).