Model Predictive Control of a Tandem-Rotor Helicopter With a Nonuniformly Spaced Prediction Horizon

Abstract

This letter considers model predictive control of a tandem-rotor helicopter. The error is formulated using the matrix Lie group $SE_2(3)$. A reference trajectory to a target is calculated using a quartic guidance law, leveraging the differentially flat properties of the system, and refined using a finite-horizon linear quadratic regulator. The nonlinear system is linearized about the reference trajectory enabling the formulation of a quadratic program with control input, attitude keep-in zone, and attitude error constraints. A non-uniformly spaced prediction horizon is leveraged to capture the multi-timescale dynamics while keeping the problem size tractable. Monte-Carlo simulations demonstrate robustness of the proposed control structure to initial conditions, model uncertainty, and environmental disturbances.