In flight control designs for lateral directional movement, there is a block named "gravity compensation". This block changes yaw rate measurement from "$r$" to "$r-g/Vcos(\theta)sin(\phi)$" before it is sent to the controller. How does this block change the equation of motion?
1 Answer
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That term is a feedforward.
It simply makes sure that during a turn the rudder will anticipate the need for that $r$ component and thus helps making the turn coordinated.
Since the term is complete (i.e. there is also the $\theta$ component) this will work also for climbing/descending turns.
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$\begingroup$ It looks like a feedforward. But note that it is fed to the feedback controller. If it was feedforward, it should be added to the output of the feedback. Can you provide a reference? $\endgroup$ Mar 9, 2021 at 10:44
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$\begingroup$ @shooshool no, it is a feedforward. the fact that is added to $r$ instead of the rudder command does not change its nature. source: I've implemented it several times on our research aircraft. $\endgroup$– FedericoMar 9, 2021 at 10:56
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$\begingroup$ Should this feedforward be considered when the controller block is being designed? Or the controller is designed without considering the effect of feedforward and then the feedforward is added? $\endgroup$ Mar 9, 2021 at 10:58
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$\begingroup$ @shooshool if it is there, usually the controller is designed assuming that the feedforward is working as intended, i.e. lowering the load on the controller, but that's a different matter not for this stack $\endgroup$– FedericoMar 9, 2021 at 11:05