Flight-Testing of the Self-Repairing Flight Control System Using the F-15 Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control Flight Research Facility

Stewart, James F. and Shuck, Thomas L. (1990) Flight-Testing of the Self-Repairing Flight Control System Using the F-15 Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control Flight Research Facility. Technical Report NASA TM-101725, Research Engineering, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

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Abstract

The Self-Repairing Flight Control System (SRFCS) Program is sponsored by the USAF and flight-tested at the NASA Ames Research Center, Dryden Flight Research Facility. The program objective is the proof-of-concept demonstration of the SRFCS using the NASA F-15 Highly Integrated Digital Electronic Control (HIDEC) Flight Research Facility. The program approach exploits the inherent control redundancies of advanced aircraft by fully utilizing its multiple control effectors and optimally integrating their secondary aerodynamic characteristics. This is accomplished by way of reconfiguration after control effector failures. This allows the aerodynamic forces and moments produced by the other control effectors to become the redundant elements instead of massive redundant hardware. The necessary forces and moments are generated by the integration of alternate control surfaces to provide the required aircraft motion. This paper describes the F-15 HIDEC aircraft and the unique features used during the SRFCS flight test program. The development leading to the current SRFCS configuration will be highlighted. The presentation includes preliminary flight test results that address the operation of the overall system, as well as the individual technologies. The NASA F-15 flight test was the first demonstration of real-time reconfiguartion and diagnostics on a high-performance fighter.

EPrint Type:	NASA Technical Memorandum
Keywords:	Control configured vehicles, Expert systems, F-15 aircraft, Fault detection and isolation, Flight control, Flight tests, Integrated controls, Maintenance diagnostics, Reconfiguration, Self-repairing devices, Self-repairing flight control system
Subjects:	Aircraft/Project: F-15 HIDEC (01 - 09) Aeronautics: (08) Aircraft Stability And Control Aircraft/Project: F-15
ID Code:	364
Deposited On:	27 August 2004
Additional Information:	16 pages. Prepared as AIAA 90-1321 for presentation at the AIAA/SFTE/DGLR/SETP 5th Biannual Flight Test Conference, Ontario, California, May 21–24, 1990.