Control Law Design and Optimization for Rotorcraft Handling Qualities Criteria Using CONDUIT

Flight control design studies of the SH-2F Sea Sprite and RASCAL JUH-60A Black Hawk helicopters have been performed using the Control Designer’s Unified Interface (CONDUIT) software package. Both studies performed optimizations of control law gains for system performance relative to the ADS-33D handling qualities specification. The SH-2F study included a sensitivity analysis to determine the relevant design parameters for final optimization. The RASCAL Black Hawk study included a study of design margin variations to show the trade-off between actuator dynamic behavior and handling qualities performance. The following summary points were noted: 1. The SH-2F flight control system was successfully optimized for Level 1 handling qualities with the exception of roll and yaw attitude quickness.

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