Projects

Without effective control systems, many engineering projects would not be achievable. One discipline that has benefited greatly from advances in control theory is aerospace engineering. Examples of this include "fly by wire" systems. With aerospace vehicle development of ever increasing complexity, a demand arises for control solutions that will satisfy tightening performance requirements. Comprehensive and complete tools for linear control system design have been developed, while research continues for greater performing design methodologies. However, implementation lags theory, and much that has been developed has not been fully extended. The aim of this research is to develop a control system for an abstractly defined aerospace vehicle; a "Hovering Rocket". This vehicle is to encompass many of the challenges common to aerospace control. The control system is to be designed using "modern" control theory. Hence, the principal aim of research is to investigate the validity and practicality of modern control system implementation. Specifically, focus is placed upon theory that has not yet been fully researched.