project appreciation report

140 Pages·2006·7.23 MB·English

by  Daniel Gall

University of Southern Queensland

Faculty of Engineering and Surveying

PITCH CONTROL MODULE MICROPROCESSOR
UPGRADE MODIFICATION
RAYTHEON BEECHCRAFT BONANZA A36

A dissertation submitted by

Mr Daniel Gall

In fulfilment of the requirements of

Bachelor of Engineering

02 November 2006
ABSTRACT

Introduction
The Research Project Sponsor, Mr. Graham Wood (Director Aerospace Innovations),
owns and operates a Raytheon Beechcraft Bonanza Model A36 aircraft. The approved
autopilot for the aircraft is a Century III three axis autopilot system.

The functionality provided by the pitch axis channel lacks the sophistication of a
modern autopilot system. Additionally, the analogue control modules for the respective
channels are becoming increasingly unsupportable due to their age.

Objectives
The objectives of the Research Project are to:
(cid:131) Analyse and design a microprocessor based pitch control module to replace the
existing pitch analogue control module in the Sponsor’s aircraft.
(cid:131) Incorporate the Sponsor’s design requirements as per the Sponsor Brief.
(cid:131) Activate the pitch trim as the means controlling the aircraft.

Methodology
Effective control of the configuration of an aircraft is an essential condition for the
management of airworthiness and for the maintenance of Type Certification.
Configuration control during the design process is achieved by establishing baselines at
various stages. The baselines are realised via the application of systems engineering
process.

System Design
Analysis and design was undertaken in four phases:
(cid:131) General Literature Review
(cid:131) Conceptual Design
(cid:131) Preliminary Design
(cid:131) Detailed Design

The General Literature Review established that activating the pitch trim tab represents a
departure from conventional autopilot practice. Notwithstanding, the concept has been
successfully implemented on a production aircraft, the Boeing 707.

Conceptual Design established that the Sponsor’s aircraft can be controlled by manual
manipulation of the trim tab to achieve a prompt attitude change and to accurately
acquire and hold a desired altitude. A system specification was developed to reflect all
stakeholders’ requirements.

Preliminary design has established a physical architecture and allocated requirements to
each Configuration Item. Interface requirements were also defined. System modelling
verified the controller architecture. Commercially available components were identified
where possible.

Detailed design of the remaining components is in progress. The control requirements
for the pitch trim have been analysed to establish the specific hardware and software
requirements. A control algorithm was developed. Simulation of the aircraft response
has realised anomalies that are currently undergoing investigation.
i
DISCLAIMER

ii
CANDIDATES CERTIFICATION

I certify that the ideas, designs, and experimental work, results, analyses, and
conclusions set out in this dissertation are entirely my own effort, except where
otherwise indicated and acknowledged.

I further certify that the work is original and has not been previously submitted for
assessment in any other course or institution, except where specifically stated.

Daniel Thomas Gall

Q9721690

____________________________
Signature

____________________________
Date
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to acknowledge and thank my Research Project Supervisor, Professor John
Billingsley, for his guidance. An expert in control systems theory and practice,
Professor Billingsley’s advice was invaluable and contributed extensively to the
learning experience.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank the aeronautical engineers at Air Lift
Systems Program Office, RAAF Base Richmond NSW. Their advice on the aircraft
dynamics aspects of the Research Project was a key factor in the design development.

To Mr Graham Wood, my Research Project Sponsor, I offer my sincerest gratitude for
contributing his time, knowledge, and for making the aircraft available. Graham’s
extensive aviation and engineering experience has contributed significantly to my
professional development throughout the Research Project.

Finally, my deepest appreciation must go to my wife, Sam, and my children, Jess, Pat,
and Mitch. Their patience, understanding, and flexibility throughout this undertaking
has been admirable.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Page

ABSTRACT i
DISCLAIMER ii
CANDIDATES CERTIFICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv
LIST OF FIGURES ix
LIST OF TABLES x
LIST OF APPENDICES xi
SYMBOLS xii
ACRONYMS xiv
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Statement of Problem 1
1.3 Research Objectives 1
1.4 Project Methodology 1
1.5 Conclusion: Chapter 1 1
CHAPTER 2 – PROJECT MANAGEMENT
2.1 Introduction 2
2.2 Project Selection 2
2.3 Project Stakeholders 2
2.4 Project Objectives 2
2.5 Project Scope 3
2.6 Project Schedule 3
2.7 Project Budget 3
2.8 Assessment of Consequential Effects
2.8.1 Sustainability 3
2.8.2 Safety 4
2.8.3 Ethics 4
2.9 Conclusion: Chapter 2 4
CHAPTER 3 – DESIGN METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction 5
3.2 Configuration Management 5
3.3 Systems Engineering

v
3.3.1 Overview 5
3.3.2 Conceptual Design 6
3.3.3 Preliminary Design 6
3.3.4 Detailed Design 6
3.3.5 Construction & Operational Use 6
3.3.6 Developmental Test & Evaluation 6
3.4 Design Approvals 7
3.5 Conclusion: Chapter 3 7
CHAPTER 4 - LITERATURE REVIEW

4.1 Introduction 8
4.2 Theory of Flight
4.2.1 Forces of Flight 8
4.2.2 Primary Flight Controls 8
4.2.3 Secondary Flight Controls 9
4.3 Aircraft Longitudinal Dynamic Stability and Response
4.3.1 Aircraft Longitudinal Equations 10
4.3.2 Aircraft Longitudinal Transfer Functions 11
4.3.3 Characteristic Equation Roots 11
4.4 Overview of Control Systems 12
4.5 Theory of Autopilots 12
4.6 Autopilot Configuration Beechcraft Bonanza E538 14
4.7 Historical Design Data - Pitch Channel Trim Activation 15
4.8 Commercial of the Shelf Availability Assessment 15
4.9 Technical Standards Order C9c - Automatic Pilots 15
4.10 Conclusion: Chapter 4 16
CHAPTER 5 - CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
5.1 Introduction 18
5.2 Feasibility Trial
5.2.1 Trial Objectives 18
5.2.2 Trial Rationale 18
5.2.3 Trial Conditions 18
5.2.4 Trial#1 – Climb and Acquire an Altitude 19
5.2.5 Trial#2 – Dive and Acquire an Altitude 19
5.2.6 Trial#3 – Altitude Hold 20
5.2.7 Additional Data 20
5.2.8 Trial Conclusions 20
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5.3 Operational Concept Document
5.3.1 Overview 20
5.3.2 Applications 21
5.3.3 Operational Tasks 21
5.3.4 Operational Characteristics 21
5.3.5 Operating States 21
5.3.6 Operational Scenario 22
5.3.7 Operational Environment 22
5.3.8 System Support Concept 24
5.4 System Specification
5.4.1 Requirements Analysis 24
5.4.2 Type A System Specification 24
5.5 Conclusion: Chapter 5 25
CHAPTER 6 - PRELIMINARY DESIGN
6.1 Introduction 26
6.2 Control Scheme Trade Off Analysis
6.2.1 Potential System Configurations 26
6.2.2 Problem definition 26
6.2.3 Measures of Effectiveness 26
6.2.4 Trade Off Analysis – Discussion and Scoring 27
6.2.5 Conclusion 28
6.3 Control Scheme Verification
6.3.1 Objective 28
6.3.2 Methodology 29
6.3.3 Assumptions 29
6.3.4 Plant Representation – Altitude-to-Elevator Transfer 30
Function
6.3.5 Control Scheme System Block Diagram 33
6.3.6 Lead-Lag Compensator Design: MATLAB SISO 34
Tool
6.3.7 Conclusion 34
6.4 Preliminary System Architecture Definition
6.4.1 Preliminary System Configuration 34
6.4.2 Preliminary Design Configuration Items 35
6.5 Sub-system Requirements Analysis 35
6.6 Interface Definition 36
6.7 Requirements Allocation 36
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6.8 COTS Candidate Assessment
6.8.1 Altitude Sensor 36
6.8.2 Microcontroller 37
6.9 Conclusion: Chapter 6 37
CHAPTER 7 - DETAILED DESIGN
7.1 Introduction 38
7.2 Signal Processor/Compensator (Hardware) 38
7.3 Signal Processor/Compensator (Software)
7.3.1 Compensator Control Analysis 38
7.3.2 Elevator and Trim Tab Operation Analysis 39
7.3.3 State Space Equations - Beechcraft Bonanza A36 40
7.3.4 Lead-Lag Compensator Trim Tab Drive Discrete 40
Time Simulation
7.3.5 Simulation Conclusion 40
7.4 ‘Outer’ Loop Configuration Items 41
7.5 Conclusion: Chapter 7 41
CHAPTER 8 - CONCLUSION
8.1 Introduction 42
8.2 Objectives 42
8.3 Methodology 42
8.4 System Design 42
8.5 Further Work 43
8.6 Conclusion: Chapter 8 43
LIST OF REFERENCES 44
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LIST OF FIGURES

Number Title Page

4.1 Forces of Flight 8

4.2 Aircraft Control Surfaces 9

4.3 Automatic Flight Control Servo System Functional Diagram 13

5.1 System Context Diagram 23

6.1 Flight Path Geometry Altitude Hold 30

6.2 Compensator Control Scheme Block Diagram 33

6.3 Preliminary System Architecture 35
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