Optimal and Constrained-Optimal Control of a Flexible Launch Vehicle

Abstract

The constant gain feedback control of a flexible launch vehicle is considered for the case when the feedback signals are obtained from only three sensors. Sensor feedback gains as well as sensor positions on the vehicle are computed to optimize the response. Performance is very close to that found by optimal control with complete state feedback. Efficient numerical techniques, based on transformation of the single-input system to control canonical form, are used to solve the optimal and constrained-optimal problems.