Elevon modeling and control using piezoceramics

This study pursued the application of smart materials to a closed-loop control system supporting an active helicopter rotor research program, funded by the US Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate (AFDD). The active rotor included on-blade control surfaces (trailing-edge flaps or "elevons") that were deflected by piezoceramic (PZT) based actuators. Several plant models of the on-blade actuation/elevon system were developed using physics-based models, phenomenological models and identified models. A dynamic model capable of bi-directional electro-mechanical coupling was developed in the Simscape™ environment; it was successfully simulated and evaluated. A novel hysteresis model was successfully developed capable of capturing sophisticated non-linear, rate-dependent behavior. Finally, a Model-Predictive Control (MPC) controller was developed and successfully applied both in simulation and in experiment to the rotor.