Online Approximation-Based Aircraft State Estimation

Abstract

This chapter derives algorithms to estimate the aircraft state vector and to approximate the nonlinear forces and moments acting on the aircraft. The forces and moments are approximated as functions of (a portion of) the state vector over the aircraft operating envelope. The force and moment approximators are developed using the “nondimensionalized coefficient†representation that is standard in the aircraft literature. A Lyapunov-like function is used to prove the convergence of the estimator state and to discuss conditions sufficient for the convergence of the approximated force and moment functions.