TY - JOUR
T1 - String instabilities in formation flight
T2 - Limitations due to integral constraints
AU - Seiler, P.
AU - Pant, A.
AU - Hedrick, J. K.
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - Flying in formation improves aerodynamic efficiency and, consequently, leads to an energy savings. One strategy for formation control is to follow the preceding vehicle. Many researchers have shown through simulation results and analysis of specific control laws that this strategy leads to amplification of disturbances as they propagate through the formation. This effect is known as string instability. In this paper, we show that string instability is due to a fundamental constraint on coupled feedback loops. The tradeoffs imposed by this constraint imply that predecessor following is an inherently poor strategy for formation flight control. Finally, we present two examples that demonstrate the theoretical results.
AB - Flying in formation improves aerodynamic efficiency and, consequently, leads to an energy savings. One strategy for formation control is to follow the preceding vehicle. Many researchers have shown through simulation results and analysis of specific control laws that this strategy leads to amplification of disturbances as they propagate through the formation. This effect is known as string instability. In this paper, we show that string instability is due to a fundamental constraint on coupled feedback loops. The tradeoffs imposed by this constraint imply that predecessor following is an inherently poor strategy for formation flight control. Finally, we present two examples that demonstrate the theoretical results.
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U2 - 10.1115/1.1858444
DO - 10.1115/1.1858444
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:17044429039
SN - 0022-0434
VL - 126
SP - 873
EP - 879
JO - Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, Transactions of the ASME
JF - Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, Transactions of the ASME
IS - 4
ER -