Linear Quadratic Gaussian Control of a 6-DOF Aircraft Landing Gear

Abstract

The suspension system of the aircraft, provided by the landing gear, is a crucial part of landing, take-off, and taxiing. It is important that this suspension system not only adequately supports the airframe of the aircraft but also provides a comfortable, seamless ride for the passengers. However, the landing gear is usually riddled with issues, such as landing vibrations that affect passenger comfort and cause damage to the aircraft’s airframe. To reduce these vibrations, this paper proposes the use of a Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller to control a 6-DOF aircraft landing gear. The LQG controller is an optimal controller that combines the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) controller with the Kalman filter to compute the system’s control signals and estimate the system’s states. In this paper, the state space model of the 6-DOF landing gear is derived, and the mathematical model of the LQG controller is calculated. The controller’s performance is then tested via MATLAB/Simulink and compared with an equally simple control strategy, the PID controller. The results obtained from the testing process indicate that the LQG controller surpasses the PID controller in reducing landing vibrations, maintaining the aircraft’s airframe, and providing passenger comfort.