The nonlinear control problem of aircraft trajectory tracking is tackled in the framework of multiple linear time-varying constrained control using the newly developed paradigm of generalised dynamic inversion. The time differential forms of the multiple constraints encapsulate the control objectives, and are inverted to obtain the reference trajectory-realising control law. The inversion process utilises the Moore–Penrose generalised inverse and the associated nullspace projection, and it predictably involves the problematic generalised inversion singularity. Thus, a singularity avoidance scheme based on a new type of dynamically scaled generalised inverses is introduced that guarantees both asymptotically stable tracking and singularity avoidance. The steady-state closed-loop system allows for two inherently noninterfering control actions working towards a unified goal to exploit the aircraft's control authority over the entire state space. One control action is performed by the particular part of the control law on the range space of the transposed constraint matrix, and it works to impose the prescribed aircraft constrained dynamics. The other control action is performed by the auxiliary part of the control law on the complementary orthogonal nullspace of the constraint matrix, and it provides aircraft's global inner stability using the concept of perturbed feedback linearisation. Numerical simulations of an aggressive multiaxial aircraft coordinated manoeuvre verify the efficacy of designing nonlinear flight control systems via this methodology.

Purpose: To design a robust attitude control system for the ascent flight phase of satellite launch vehicles (SLVs). Design/methodology/approach: The autopilot is based on generalized dynamic inversion (GDI). Dynamic constraints are prescribed in the form of differential equations that encapsulate the control objectives, and are generalized inverted using the Moore-Penrose Generalized Inverse (MPGI) based Greville formula to obtain the control law. The MPGI is modified via a dynamic scaling factor for assuring generalized inversion singularity-robust tracking control. An additional sliding mode control (SMC) loop is augmented to robustify the GDI closed-loop system against model uncertainties and external disturbances. Findings: The robust GDI control law allows for two cooperating controllers that act on two orthogonally complement control spaces: one is the particular controller that realizes the dynamic constraints, and the other is the auxiliary controller that is affined in the null control vector, and is used to enforce global closed-loop stability. Practical implications: Orthogonality of the particular and the auxiliary control subspaces ensures noninterference of the two control actions, and thus, it ensures that both actions work toward a unified goal. The robust control loop increases practicality of the GDI control design. Originality/value: The first successful implementation of GDI to the SLV control problem.

A unifying methodology is introduced for smooth asymptotic stabilisation of underactuated rigid body dynamics under one and two degrees of actuation. The methodology is based on the concept of generalised inversion, and it aims to realise a perturbation from the unrealisable feedback linearising transformation. A desired linear dynamics in a norm measure of the angular velocity components about the unactuated axes is evaluated along solution trajectories of Euler's underactuated dynamical equations resulting in a linear relation in the control variables. This relation is used to assess asymptotic stabilisability of underactuated rigid bodies with arbitrary values of inertia parameters, and generalised inversion of the relation produces a control law that consists of particular and auxiliary parts. The generalised inverse in the particular part is scaled by a dynamic factor such that it uniformly converges to the Moore–Penrose inverse, and the null-control vector in the auxiliary part is chosen for asymptotically stable perturbed feedback linearisation of the underactuated system.