Optimal Takeoff and Landing Control of Tilt-Body Aircraft

This paper investigates the optimal control problem of the takeoff and landing process for tilt-body aircraft with whole-aircraft tilting. Unlike conventional VTOL aircraft, the thrust vector of a tilt-body aircraft in the parked state is not vertically upward. The takeoff and landing process essentially involves a complex tilting maneuver between the parked equilibrium state and the hover equilibrium state. This process is subject to nonlinear constraints from the landing gear dynamics, wing-propeller interaction interference, and friction mode transitions, among other disturbances. The control challenge is as severe as the transition control of VTOL aircraft. In this study, the takeoff and landing process is formulated as an optimal control problem. By optimizing the dynamic characteristics during this process, the slip distance is reduced and safety evaluation indicators are improved. Simulation results show that, compared with traditional takeoff and landing control methods, the proposed optimization approach reduces slip distance by 68% and improves safety indices by more than 52%.