NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

G-III Subsonic Aircraft Testbed (SCRAT) TN 804 in flight at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. NASA photo. The Dynamics and Controls branch specializes in research of flight control systems, components, and methodologies. In addition, the branch also provides support to projects in the form of stability and controls analysis, handling qualities analysis, and verification and validation testing. The branch has contributed to the NASA Aeronautics Research, Human Exploration and Operations, and Science Mission Directorates, through program participation in X-48C, Intelligent Control for Performance (ICP), Alternative-Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise EmiSSions (ACCESS), X-56 Multi-Utility Technology Testbed (MUTT), HTV, G-III, KQ-X, and Orion

Point of Contact

Steve Jacobson
Chief, Dynamics and Controls Branch
(661) 276-7423
Steven.R.Jacobson@nasa.gov

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Flight guidance, navigation and control

• Peak seeking control
• Control of unique vehicles in all flight regimes
• Safely flight validate emerging methodologies and applications
• Demonstrate unique control effectors and sensors
• Real time stability margin calculation
• Research flight control evaluation on existing platforms
• Control of aeroelastic structures
• Precision trajectories
• Intelligent / adaptive / robust flight control
• Formation flight
• Autonomous air-to-air refueling
• Collision avoidance technologies
• Classical and modern techniques

Flight Dynamics

• Development of aircraft and subsystem models for linear and non-linear simulations and analysis
• Stability and control
• Flying qualities / handling qualities
• State estimation

Flight Research Support

• Flight research data analysis
• Flight test planning
• Verification and validation testing
• Simulation analysis including Monte Carlo and piloted studies
• Control room support