Multi-Agent Fuzzy Logic Controller applied to One Lever Variable Pitch Turboprop Aircraft

Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Politecnico di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy

^* Corresponding author: lorenzo.dambrosio@poliba.it

Abstract

Modern aircraft turboprop engines are generally managed by pilots by using the well-established two-levers approach which allows the pilot to control independently the engine thrust (power lever) and the propeller rotational speed (condition lever). On the other hand, the twolevers governing system presents several disadvantages in terms of pilot training, fuel consumption and aircraft maintenance. The one-lever approach tries to solve such drawbacks regulating at the same time the engine power and the propeller pitch. In the present work a Multi-Agent Fuzzy Logic control algorithm has been proposed to implement the one-lever approach for the control of the variable pitch turboprop aircraft propulsion system. The whole aircraft ecosystem has been developed in Simulink® framework to verify the feasibility and performance of the proposed one-lever approach.