Convex Optimization-Based Fault-Tolerant Control for Dissimilar Redundant Actuation System of Civil Aircraft

This chapter introduces a novel approach to enhance the reliability and safety of modern commercial aircraft through convex optimization-based fault-tolerant control (CO-FTC) for dissimilar redundant actuation systems (DRAS). The DRAS, which includes a hydraulic actuator (HA) and electro-hydrostatic actuator (EHA), is briefly introduced and modeled in a state space framework with gradual faults. In order to improve the flight safety with gradual DRAS faults, a convex optimization-based fault-tolerant control (CO-FTC) strategy optimizes the control gain matrix via linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) to ensure stability despite faults. Unlike traditional methods, a novel subsystem-based technique is employed to enhance system performance under faults. Comprehensive case studies illustrate the necessity of fault tolerance, validating the CO-FTC strategy’s efficacy. Comparative analysis of simulation results demonstrates its robustness and effectiveness in contrast to existing methods.