Accession Number:

ADA008722

Title:

Application of Modern Control Theory to Scheduling and Path-Stretching Maneuvers of Aircraft in the Near Terminal Area,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS LAB

Personal Author(s):

• Athans,Michael

Report Date:

1974-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

30.0

Abstract:

The purpose of this paper is to present a design concept for the dynamic control of aircraft in the near terminal area. An arbitrary set of nominal air routes, with possible multiple merging points, all leading to a single runway is considered. The system allows for the automated determination of accelerationdeceleration of aircraft along the nominal air routes, as well as for the automated determination of path-stretching delay maneuvers. In addition to normal operating conditions the system accommodates a variable commanded separations over the outer marker to allow for takeoffs between successive landings b emergency conditions in the sense that an aircraft is given partial or complete priority for landing. The system design is based upon the combination of three distinct optimal control problems a a standard linear-quadratic problem, b a parameter optimization problem, and c a minimum-time rendezvous problem. Simulation results involving twelve aircraft under both normal and emergency conditions will also be presented.

Descriptors:

• *TERMINAL FLIGHT FACILITIES
• *SCHEDULING
• *CONTROL THEORY
• *AIR TRAFFIC
• ACCELERATION
• AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
• TAKEOFF
• AIRCRAFT LANDINGS
• DECELERATION

Subject Categories:

• Aircraft
• Air Navigation and Guidance

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE