A Study on Gust Alleviation Based on Distributed Electric Propulsion

2026-99-2304

To be published on 10/30/2026

Authors
Abstract
Content
In a distributed electric-propulsion aircraft, multi-motor drive propellers distributed across the wings to provide the aircraft’s primary thrust. The electric control system enables rapid adjustment of propeller speed to control the overall attitude and flight path of the distributed electric propulsion aircraft. Furthermore, by utilizing the wake-induced acceleration effect generated by the propellers to alter the aerodynamic force distribution on the wing surfaces, it achieves gust attenuation. When encountering gusts, the PID control system adjusts the propeller slip to increase lift, thereby mitigating the effects of gusts on distributed electric propulsion aircraft. This paper employs PID control to regulate the steady-state performance of a distributed electric-propulsion aircraft under gusty conditions, with the objective of achieving the fastest return to a steady state. When encountering a headwind and a downdraft, the aircraft’s flight quality are severely disrupted; while airspeed, angle of attack, pitch angle, and rate of climb return to their original states or tend to stabilize, the effect of these forces causes the aircraft to lose height. After PID control is applied, under the influence of a tailwind disturbance, the aircraft’s descent under PID control is significantly less than under open-loop control, and it quickly returns to its original height and remains stable; Under the influence of downdraft turbulence, the aircraft under open-loop control is unable to return to its original height, whereas the aircraft under PID control drops slightly before returning to its original height.
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Citation
Yang, W., Yang, Y., Fu, J., and Shen, J., "A Study on Gust Alleviation Based on Distributed Electric Propulsion," 2026 2nd International Conference on Aerospace Engineering and Materials Technology, Xi'An, China, April 10, 2026, .
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
To be published on Oct 30, 2026
Product Code
2026-99-2304
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English