The Design and Simulation of a Takeoff Stabilization System for an Aircraft with an Air Cushion Landing System

The inherent instability in pitch and roll associated with an Air Cushion Landing System ACLS aircraft at low airspeeds was investigated, and a means to aid control in pitch and roll was developed. The control system required the use of vertical wing tip thrusters which provided thrust up or down depending on the control signal similar to space vehicle thrusters. These thrusters could be activated alternately to control roll angle and roll rate with the use of a bang-bang optimal controller. As well, the thrusters would be set forward of the aircraft center of gravity and could be activated in tandum to aid in pitch control. The Jindivik Remotely Piloted Vehicle, an Australian target drone, was fitted with an ACLS and taxi tests showed the instability and need for a stabilization system. Subsequent use of Jindivik wind tunnel and taxi test data served as the basis for the development of the rollpitch control system presented in this paper. Due to computational problems with the air cushion model of the computer program, the controller designs could not be completely verified but expected trends in pitch, roll, and yaw control were shown.