Predictor-based model reference adaptive roll and yaw control of a quad-tiltrotor UAV

An attempt is made to apply modern control technology to the roll and yaw control of a rudderless quad-tiltrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in the latter part of the flight mode transition, where aerodynamic forces on the tiltrotor’s wings start to take effect. A predictor-based adaptive roll and yaw controller is designed to compensate for system uncertainties and parameter changes. A dynamics model of the tiltrotor is built. A Radial-Basis Function (RBF) neural network and offline adaptation method are used to reduce flight controller workload and cope with the nonlinearities in the controls. Simulations are conducted to verify the reference model response tracking and yaw-roll control decoupling ability of the adaptive controller, as well as the validity of the offline adaptation method. Flight tests are conducted to confirm the ability of the adaptive controller to track different roll and yaw reference model responses. The decoupling of roll and yaw controls is also tested in flight via coordinated turn maneuvers with different rotor tilt angles.