A multivariable MRAC scheme with application to a nonlinear aircraft model

This paper revisits the multivariable model reference adaptive control (MRAC) problem, by studying adaptive state feedback control for output tracking of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems. With such a control scheme, the plant-model matching conditions are much less restrictive than those for state tracking, while the controller has a simpler structure than that of an output feedback design. Such a control scheme is useful when the plant-model matching conditions for state tracking cannot be satisfied. A stable adaptive control scheme is developed based on LDS decomposition of the high-frequency gain matrix, which ensures closed-loop stability and asymptotic output tracking. A simulation study of a linearized lateral-directional dynamics model of a realistic nonlinear aircraft system model is conducted to demonstrate the scheme. This linear design based MRAC scheme is subsequently applied to a nonlinear aircraft system, and the results indicate that this linearization-based adaptive scheme can provide acceptable system performance for the nonlinear systems in a neighborhood of an operating point.