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Design and development of a backstepping controller autopilot for fixed-wing UAVs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2021

D. Sartori Open the ORCID record for D. Sartori [Opens in a new window] ,
F. Quagliotti ,
M.J. Rutherford  and
K.P. Valavanis
D. Sartori*
Affiliation:
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Institute of Sensing and Navigation ShanghaiChina
F. Quagliotti
Affiliation:
Politecnico di Torino Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering TorinoItaly
M.J. Rutherford
Affiliation:
University of Denver Department of Computer Science DenverUSA
K.P. Valavanis
Affiliation:
University of Denver Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering DenverUSA
*
dan.sartori@sjtu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Backstepping represents a promising control law for fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Its non-linearity and its adaptation capabilities guarantee adequate control performance over the whole flight envelope, even when the aircraft model is affected by parametric uncertainties. In the literature, several works apply backstepping controllers to various aspects of fixed-wing UAV flight. Unfortunately, many of them have not been implemented in a real-time controller, and only few attempt simultaneous longitudinal and lateral–directional aircraft control. In this paper, an existing backstepping approach able to control longitudinal and lateral–directional motions is adapted for the definition of a control strategy suitable for small UAV autopilots. Rapidly changing inner-loop variables are controlled with non-adaptive backstepping, while slower outer loop navigation variables are Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controlled. The controller is evaluated through numerical simulations for two very diverse fixed-wing aircraft performing complex manoeuvres. The controller behaviour with model parametric uncertainties or in presence of noise is also tested. The performance results of a real-time implementation on a microcontroller are evaluated through hardware-in-the-loop simulation.

Keywords

BacksteppingControllerControl systemsUAVFixed-wingAircraftSimulation
Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 125 , Issue 1294 , December 2021 , pp. 2087 - 2113
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal Aeronautical Society

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