Design of Multi-Input Multi-Output Controller for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle by Eigenstructure Assignment Method

The purpose of this paper is to present a Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) linear controller based on the eigenstructure assignment method for a fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in longitudinal and lateral-directional channels. To this end, a six degree-of-freedom model of the aerial vehicle is considered, where dynamic modes of the system in each channel are analyzed, and the effect of each dynamic mode on state and output variables of the system is investigated. Then, the eigenvalue and eigenvector parameters of the designed controller are appropriately assigned for the system dynamic modes in each channel. In addition, the system requirements of each dynamic mode are satisfied with the proposed controller, and the adverse interaction between the system state variables is minimized. The capability and effectiveness of the designed controller in a desired maneuver are demonstrated with a nonlinear model simulation of a fixed-wing UAV. In this regard, the results in longitudinal and lateral-directional channels are presented.