Gain scheduling for H-infinity controllers: a flight control example

A new approach to gain scheduling linear dynamic controllers is illustrated for a pitch-axis autopilot design problem. In this application the linear controllers are designed at distinct operating conditions by H/sup infinity / methods. The gain scheduling procedure uses particular features of both the linear dynamic controllers and the controller configuration to remove so-called hidden coupling terms that can occur in scheduled controllers. Potential performance improvement is demonstrated by comparing simulation results to those for a naive gain scheduled controller that ignores the coupling terms.>