Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Power Management in Hybrid Distributed Electric Propulsion Aircraft

This paper is dedicated to the power management of hybrid distributed electric propulsion (HDEP) aircraft. The aerodynamics of HDEP aircraft is known as a highly nonlinear system. In view of this, a power management strategy based on nonlinear model prediction control (NMPC) is proposed. A key feature of the proposed strategy is that, by considering the slipstream effect induced by multiple electric propulsion motors, it captures the aerodynamics of HDEP more comprehensively. Furthermore, the proposed strategy minimizes fuel consumption by optimizing the operation of both supply and load sides. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.