Hybrid Optimisation schemes for the clearance of flight control laws

The application of two evolutionary optimisation schemes to theproblem of flight clearance of nonlinear control laws for highlyaugmented aircraft is described. Hybrid versions of both schemesincorporating local gradient-based optimisation are also developedand evaluated. Comparisons of computational complexity and globalconvergence are conducted by checking for violations of a nonlinearclearance criterion for a detailed simulation model of a highperformance aircraft with a full authority flight control law. Therecently introduced differential evolution approach, whenappropriately augmented with local optimisation methods, is shown tohave significant potential for improving both the reliability andefficiency of the current industrial flight clearance process.