A review of control algorithms for twin rotor systems

Abstract

Twin rotor systems in many ways resemble helicopters and they are multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, highly nonlinear, and there is significant cross-coupling between their control variables. As a result, control of twin rotor systems is challenging and receiving great interest from a control engineering community. This paper presents a review of different control algorithms that have been published for control of a twin rotor MIMO system (TRMS) and a twin rotor aerodynamical system (TRAS). These control algorithms have been implemented through simulation using the systems’ dynamic models and/or experiments on laboratory test beds. Initially, a brief review on an open loop control approach is given, and subsequently, a detailed review of closed-loop control approaches is presented.