Efficient roll control using distributed control surfaces and aeroelastic effects

The potential of using multiple leading and trailing edge control surfaces and aeroelastic effects for efficient roll manoeuvring is investigated. Numerical optimization in combination with a simulation model including aeroelastic dynamics is used to design a controller for roll angle tracking. The controller distributes the control power to the individual surfaces such that it minimizes the control effort yet fulfilling roll performance requirements in a wide airspeed envelope. The controller is implemented and experimentally validated using an elastic wind-tunnel model equipped with 16 individual control surfaces. Good correlation between simulations and experiments is obtained although some deviations are observed and discussed. Finally, the choice of the most efficient control surface layout is investigated by evaluating control laws which utilize a subset of the available control surfaces.