This paper discusses the use of an adaptive system to stabilize a multi-tank launch vehicle with sloshable fuel. The adaptive system utilizes a sensor to measure the fluid slosh angle, a recursive-least-squares estimator to estimate the natural frequency of the sloshing fuel, and a linear filter which stabilizes the unstable fuel slosh using the frequency estimate. Single-input and multiinput estimators were investigated. The time-varying complexity of the slosh control loop keeps the system persistently excited through flight, even though the attitude is controlled by a conventional PID controller. For the first portion of flight, the adaptive system maintains stability. A modification is proposed for latter portions of flight. The approach requires no tank baffles or partitions.
Adaptive control of propellant slosh for a launch vehicle with multiple tanks
AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference ; 1991 ; New Orleans, LA, United States
1991-01-01
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Keine Angabe
Englisch