Registration required: https://aiaa-sf.org/registration/
Rotorcraft Flight Control Technology – Advancements and Future Challenges
with Dr. Mark B. Tischler
at Santa Clara University, Daly Science Building, Room 207
Special joint event with the Santa Clara University student branch of AIAA, and the IEEE Control Systems Society in Silicon Valley!
In his updated Nikolsky Lecture “Rotorcraft flight control technology advancements and future challenges,” Dr. Tischler first summarizes the key flight control design drivers that distinguish rotorcraft from their fixed-wing counterparts. The second part of his presentation reviews the key advancements in flight control technology over the past 50 years. Dr. Tischler researched the literature extensively to ensure that his presentation would cover both the activities of Army and their research partners as well the contributions of the many other research organizations world-wide that together have affected a “sea change” in how flight control systems for rotorcraft are developed.
In the next part of his lecture, Dr. Tischler considers the flight control challenges for future rotorcraft concepts, include the Army’s Future Vertical Lift, autonomous air systems (UAS) based on existing piloted rotorcraft, and eVTOL multicopter configurations (often referred to as drones in the popular media) for package delivery and air taxi (UAM — Urban Air Mobility). This section proposes how the flight control technologies of the past 50 years will be key to address the challenges of these new configurations. Finally, Dr. Tischler present his own personal thoughts on some keys to flight control research advancements and some broader thoughts on lessons learned as a career long flight control engineer and senior technologist. Key messages of this last section are the importance of collaboration, technology transfer, and mentors throughout one’s career.
Dr. Mark Tischler heads “Tischler Aeronautics,” with a focus on providing Engineering Support in Rotorcraft and Aircraft Flight Dynamics and Control. He retired in January 2021 after a 38-year career as a US Army Senior Technologist and Senior Scientist at Moffett Field, CA. For over 25 years, he led the Flight Control Technology group that conducts handling qualities, flight dynamics and control research on a wide range of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Dr. Tischler has been involved in numerous flight-test projects in both his industry and government career.
Dr. Tischler has published extensively in this field having authored or co-authored over 200 research publications. He is the author of three widely-used books Aircraft and Rotorcraft System Identification: Engineering Methods with Flight Test Examples (AIAA 2006, 2012); Practical Methods for Aircraft and Rotorcraft Flight Control Design: An Optimization-Based Approach (AIAA 2017); and Advances in Aircraft Flight Control (Ed) (AIAA and Taylor & Francis, 1996).
Dr. Tischler has received many major awards for his work over the years, including named American Helicopter Society’s Technical Fellow (2007) and Nikolsky Honorary Lectureship (2020) for life-time career achievements in rotorcraft flight control. He has the rare distinction of twice receiving the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Senior Professional (2009, 2018), the highest recognition presented to public officials. Dr. Tischler received the Department of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal in 2020, the highest award that may be bestowed by the Secretary of the Army for extraordinary contributions as a Senior Research Scientist.
He received his BS and MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, and his PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.
Advance registration required! Tickets will not be sold at the event. Refreshments (pizza, sandwiches, drinks) will be served at the presentation for paid attendees only.
It will also be streamed over Zoom for those who wish to join remotely.