5. Variable-Order Observer-Based Fault Tolerant Control for Aircraft with Partial Actuator and Sensor Failures

This chapter introduces a novel approach to fault tolerant control (FTC) for aircraft models with partial faults in actuators and sensors. The proposed technique utilizes a variable-order observer-based reconfigurable scheme. The aircraft’s hybrid states, which consist of both observer states and normal states, are utilized in the reconfiguration of the optimal fault tolerant control gain. This reconfiguration is carried out using the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) technique, specifically tailored to address certain fault conditions. The switching mechanism has been devised with the purpose of achieving seamless transitions between various control gains. The verification of the convergence of the observer and the effectiveness of the fault tolerant controller is conducted using numerical simulation.