Simulation of an Affordable Fly-By-Wire System for Small Commercial Aircraft

The Affordable Digital Flight Control System for Small Commercial Aircraft (ADFCS) programme investigated the feasibility of introducing fly-by-wire (FBW) technology to the small and medium commercial aircraft market. An architecture was developed for a cost-effective FBW Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) for small and medium commercial aircraft utilizing new technologies based on Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks and Robust Control to reduce the overall system costs. The feasibility of the innovative FBW technologies was demonstrated by simulated flight tests. This paper presents an overview of the ADFCS programme and, more specifically, an insight into the simulator evaluation process effectively conducted as part of the project. The main achievement of the project has been to challenge the state-of-the-art technology and prove that new technologies have the potential to improve the affordability of FBW for small and medium commercial aircraft in a safe manner. To further mature the developed system, based on the most promising technologies and identified cost drivers, a follow-up project has been initiated (ADFCS-II). The successful international co-operation within the ADFCS consortium may prove to be a basis for further innovations aimed at increasing the affordability of FBW technology for small to medium commercial aircraft. Nationaal Luchten Ruimtevaartlaboratorium National Aerospace Laboratory NLR