A Configuration-Independent Trajectory Control System for Simplified Vehicle Operations of VTOL Aircraft

Abstract:
This paper presents the design and simulation-based evaluation of a configuration-independent Trajectory Control System (TCS) for multiple vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicles. The TCS provides a unified, middle-loop longitudinal control system applicable to lift-plus-cruise, tiltwing, and vectored-thrust configurations. Developed under the Simplified Vehicle Operations (SVO) paradigm, the TCS computes thrust-to-weight commands from normalized vertical and horizontal acceleration using inertial frame force-balance relationships and allocates the resulting trajectory requirements across the available propulsors. The governing TCS equations, propulsor-share framework, and mode structure remain common across configurations, while configuration-specific effects enter only through mode thresholds, inverse propulsor models, and control allocation. The control laws require only attitude, angular rate, fore-aft acceleration, and vertical velocity feedback. Subscale simulation comparisons across three dissimilar VTOL vehicles demonstrate closely grouped longitudinal response characteristics together with broadly comparable departure and arrival transition behavior, supporting the predicted configuration-independent formulation and its suitability for pilot-intuitive operation. These results establish a scalable longitudinal control approach for next-generation VTOL vehicles. The simulation-based findings are further supported by the broader flight test progression of the three configurations reported in prior work.

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