Robust output feedback control of fixed-wing aircraft

Purpose This paper aims to devise a robust controller for the non-linear aircraft model using output feedback control topology in the presence of uncertain aerodynamic parameters. Design/methodology/approach Feedback linearization-based state feedback (SFB) controller is considered along with a robust outer loop control which is designed using Lyapunov’s second method. A high-gain observer (HGO) in accordance with the separation principle is used to implement the output feedback (OFB) control scheme. The robustness of the controller and observer is assessed by introducing uncertain aerodynamics coefficients in the dynamic model. The proposed scheme is validated using MATLAB/SIMULINK. Findings The efficacy of the proposed scheme is authenticated with the simulation results which show that HGO-based OFB control achieves the SFB control performance for a small value of the high-gain parameter in the presence of uncertain aerodynamic parameters. Originality/value A HGO for the non-linear model of aircraft with uncertain parameters is a novel contribution which could be further used for the unmanned aerial vehicles autopilot, flight trajectory tracking and path following.