@misc{402, author = {Nicholas Kottenstette}, title = {Constructive Non-Linear Control Design With Applications to Quad-Rotor and Fixed-Wing Aircraft}, abstract = {This paper recalls a non-linear constructive method, based on controlling cascades of conic-systems as it applies to the control of quad-rotor aircraft. Such a method relied on the physical model of the system to construct high performance, modest sampling period (Ts = .02 s) and low complexity digital-controllers. The control of fixed-wing aircraft, however is not nearly a straight forward task in extending results related to the control of quad-rotor aircraft. Although fixed-wing aircraft and quad-rotor aircraft ultimately share the same kinematic equations of motion, fixed-wing aircraft are intimately dependent on their relationship to the wind reference frame. This additional coupling leads to additional equations of motion including those related to the angle-of attack, slide-slip-angle, and bank angle. As a result a more advanced non-linear control method known as back-stepping is required to compensate for non-passive non-linearity's. These back-stepping controllers are recursive in nature and can even address actuator magnitude and rate limitations and even include adaptability to unknown lift and drag coefficients. This paper presents a non-adaptive back-stepping controller which is aimed to verify a fixed-wing aircraft model not subject to actuator limitations (in order to simplify discussion). The back-stepping controller proposed is less complex then previously proposed controllers, exhibits similar response characteristics while being robust to both steady head wind shear and discrete-time wind gust disturbances.}, year = {2010}, journal = {Technical Report}, month = {01/2010}, publisher = {Institute for Software Integrated Systems, Vanderbilt University}, address = {Nashville, TN}, }