Flight Trajectory Tracking for Training Simulator Qualification Using Model Predictive Control Strategy: A Case Study

A high-fidelity flight simulator is used to effectively train and evaluate pilots. The simulator must, however, be previously qualified by authorities by comparing the responses of the simulator to those of flight tests for several maneuvers. The use of a controller is permitted to make corrections to the simulator input signals. The simulator inputs and outputs must, however, be within tolerance bands defined by the authorities, compared to flight test data. This article presents a model predictive controller (MPC) and its evaluation on a takeoff and landing case. The method is already promising because these results were obtained after very few tuning iterations, which could result in significant time and cost savings. This is made possible by the clear meaning of the impact of the MPC tuning parameters on the simulator inputs and outputs and also by the ability to intrinsically consider the interactions and constraints of the multivariable system.