Aircraft Parameter Estimation Using Optimal Control Methods

In the paper at hand, a parameter estimation problem for a dynamic aircraft model is solved using direct optimal control methods. After stating the general problem, the maximum likelihood cost function is rephrased in order to formulate the problem as a standard optimal control problem. The parameters of two linear models, one for the lateral and one for the longitudinal motion of an aircraft, are estimated based on artificial measurements that have been created using a non-linear simulation. The initial guess required for the optimal control problem is created using the ordinary least squares method. The simulated results, using the identified model, show good accordance with the real output histories. The resulting dynamic properties are compared to the linearized dynamics and to results obtained with an implementation of standard parameter estimation algorithms. In both cases, close agreement was observed.     «

In the paper at hand, a parameter estimation problem for a dynamic aircraft model is solved using direct optimal control methods. After stating the general problem, the maximum likelihood cost function is rephrased in order to formulate the problem as a standard optimal control problem. The parameters of two linear models, one for the lateral and one for the longitudinal motion of an aircraft, are estimated based on artificial measurements that have been created using a non-linear simulation. Th...     »