An Unusual Structure for a Feedforward Gust Load Alleviation Controller

Abstract

This paper presents an unusual feedforward controller structure that allows to take allocation constraints into account which can be expressed in the timefrequency or time-scale domains. This novel controller structure was motivated by the design of a feedforward controller for airplane gust and turbulence load alleviation based on Doppler LIDAR measurements. As shown by the application that has motivated this development, some strongly nonlinear constraints can be guaranteed by the design of the structure. The developed structure is not restricted to the considered application and could be applied successfully to many other feedforward control Problems with some prior knowledge of the upcoming disturbances or references.