Design of hovering flight controller for a model helicopter

This paper describes a procedure to design a hovering flight controller for a model helicopter using LQG theory. Parameters of the model helicopter in hover are obtained using direct measurements and calculations proposed by other research. A feedback co is by using digital LQG theory. First, a full state feedback controller is designed to the discretized system taking desirable transient response and other assumptions into account. Then a full-state estimator is designed and revised until desirable response is obtained while global stability is maintained. Performance of the controller is tested by computer simulations. Experiments have been performed using a 3-degree-of-freedom gimbal that holds the model helicopter, and the controller exhibited stable hover capability.