Total energy related speed control for 3-dimensional guidance displays with predictor

Speed control is considered for tunnel displays with a predictor presenting 3-dimensional guidance information for flight path control. Factors driving the predictor design are described. With reference to the resulting predictor control law, it is shown that speed control is stable for operation on the frontside of the power-required curve and unstable for operation on the reverse. This instability can be removed by manual thrust control. For thrust control, the total energy state is used as a reference. It is shown that the thrust control loop is supported by the predictor control law because of favorable coupling effects between the two loops involved. A further supporting effect is due to an appropriate thrust command indication related to the energy state in the 3-dimensional guidance display. The theoretical findings are validated by results from pilotin-the-loop simulation experiments.