INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

DUNDIGAL, HYDERABAD-500043

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
QUESTION BANK

Course Title CONTROL THEORY APPLICATION TO FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS

Course Code 57116
Regulation
R09 - JNTUH
Course Structure Lectures Tutorials Practicals Credits
3 1 - 3
Course Coordinator Mr. Akhil A.Chandran
Team of Instructors Mr. Akhil A.Chandran

OBJECTIVES

To meet the challenge of ensuring excellence in engineering education, the issue of quality needs to be
addressed, debated and taken forward in a systematic manner. Accreditation is the principal means of
quality assurance in higher education. The major emphasis of accreditation process is to measure the
outcomes of the program that is being accredited.

In line with this, Faculty of Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Hyderabad has taken a lead in
incorporating philosophy of outcome based education in the process of problem solving and career
development. So, all students of the institute should understand the depth and approach of course to be
taught through this question bank, which will enhance learners learning process.

1. Group A (Short Answer Questions)

Unit 1
Sl. Question Blooms Taxonomy Course Outcomes
No.
1 Understand 1
What are the components of a control System
2 Understand 1
What are the advantages of Open and Closed
loop Control System?
3 Remember 2
What are the differences between open and
 closed loop control system?
4 Understand 1
What are the effects of feedback on stability of
control system?
5 Understand 1
What are the advantages & disadvantages of
positive feedback control systems?
6 Understand 1
What is difference between System & Control
System?
7 Remember 1
State two examples of control system?
8 Understand 1

What are the advantages & limitations of Laplace

Transforms?
9 Remember 1
State the advantages and drawbacks of open loop
control system?
10 What are the differences between Discrete time and Understand 2
continuous time systems?
Unit 2
Sl. Questions Blooms Taxonomy Course Outcome
No
1 What do you understand by Robustness? Understand 1
2 Define steady state error. Understand 2
3 What do you understand by feedback gain? Understand 1
4 Remember 2
State the advantages and drawbacks of open loop
control system?
5 What do you understand by Loop gain? Understand 1
6 Define Transfer function. Remember 2
7 Remember 1
Define open loop and closed loop control system
with example?
8 Remember 2
What are the effects of feedback on stability of
control system?
9 Understand 1
Write the application of AC Servomotor?
10 Remember 1
What are the differences between open and closed
loop control system?
Unit 3
Sl. Questions Blooms Taxonomy Course Outcomes
No
1 Remember 1
State Masons Gain Formula.
2 Understand 2
What is the significance of controller?
3 Understand 2
What is compensation?
4 Understand 1
What is lag compensation?
5 Understand 1
What is lead compensation?
6 Analyze 2
What are the advantages and disadvantages of
Block diagram Reduction technique
7 Analyze 3
Compare block diagram representation with signal
flow graph representation
8 What is PI and PD controller? Understand 3
9 Why derivative controller alone is not used in the Analyze 3
control system?
10 What is compensation? What are the different types of Understand 4
compensator?
Unit 4
Sl. Questions Blooms Taxonomy Course Outcome
No
1 Define Body axes system. Understand 6
2 Write in brief about the control effects on rolling Understand 6
moment.
3 Define Flight control system. Understand 6
4 What do you mean by Reversible flight control system? Understand 6
5 Define stability axes system. Understand 6
6 What do you mean by steady level flight? Remember 6
7 Define Static stability. Understand 6
8 What do you understand by Irreversible Flight control Remember 6
system?
9 Define body axes system. Understand 6
10 Write in brief about the control effects on Pitching Analyze 6
moment.
Unit 5
Sl. Questions Blooms Taxonomy Course Outcome
No
1 Define Autopilot. Understand 7
2 State the advantages of Autopilot system. Remember 6
3 What are the limitations of Autopilot system? Understand 6
4 What do you understand about ac Servomotor? Understand
5 What was the purpose of Displacement type autopilot? Understand 7
6 What are the purposes of Autopilot system? Understand 6
7 What do you understand about dc Servomotor? Understand 7
8 What do you understand about dc Servomotor? Remember 7
9 What do you understand about microcontroller? Understand 6
10 State the control surfaces deployed for the Lateral Remember 6
directional control.
Unit 6
Sl. Questions Blooms Taxonomy Course Outcomes
No
1 What are the advantages of using state variable? Understand 1
2 What are the different methods of decomposition of Remember 1
transfer function?
3 How is a state diagram constructed? What is its Understand 1
significance?
4 Write any two properties of state transition matrix Remember 1
5 Write the state space equations of a system. Understand 1
6 Define state variable. Analyze 1
7 Define State model. Understand 1
8 What is the advantage of canonical form? Remember 1
9 What do you understand by the concept state? Understand 1
10 What is the significance of State transition matrix? Remember 1
Unit 7
Sl. Questions Analyze Course Outcomes
No
1 What are the advantages of state space analysis? Understand 1
2 What do you understand by canonical description of a Remember 1
system?
3 What do you mean by homogeneous state equation? Understand 1
4 Define Eigen values/ Remember 1
5 Define Eigen Vectors? Understand 1
6 Define controllability? Analyze 1
7 What do you mean by nonhomogeneous state equation? Understand 1
8 What do you mean by characteristic equation? Remember 1
9 Define observability? Understand 1
10 What do you understand by MIMO? Remember 1
Unit 8
Sl. Questions1 Blooms Taxonomy Course Outcomes
No
1 Write in brief about modern control techniques. Remember 12
2 Write in brief about the cost constraints for an optimal Remember 12
controller.
3 What do you understand by Linear Quadratic Understand 12
Regulator?
4 Define feedback matrix. Remember 12
5 What do you understand by stability Augmentation? Understand 12
6 What do you understand by Optimal control? Remember 12
7 What do you understand by Digital Control? Remember 12
8 Name the three basic methods of decomposition for Understand 12
digital controller?
9 Define microprocessor? Remember 12
10 What do you understand by Digital Signal Processing? Understand 12

Group B (2 Marks questions)

Unit 1
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Explain the concept of System? Understand 1
2 Understand 1
What are the advantages & disadvantages of positive and
negative feedback control
3 Draw the block diagram representation of a general Open loop Analyze 2
system.
4 Draw the block diagram representation of a general Closed loop Analyze 1
system.
5 Define Transfer function. Understand 1
6 What are the limitations of modelling a system using Transfer Understand 1
function?
7 Define Settling time, Peak time, and Maximum overshoot. Remember 1
8 What do you understand from critically damped system? Understand 1
9 What do you understand by Frequency Response? Remember 1
10 Write the general expression for a second order system. Understand 2
Unit 2
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Explain the concept of Feedback control with the help of an Understand 1
example from any biological/societal system.
2 Explain the concept of Open loop system with the help of a block Understand 2
diagram.
3 Explain the concept of Closed loop system with the help of a block Understand 1
diagram.
4 Define Stability of a control system. Remember 2
5 What do you understand by the concept of Robustness? Understand 1
6 Write in brief about Automatic Control. Remember 2
7 Write a short note on Effect of Feedback on Overall gain of a Remember 1
control system.
8 Write a short note on Effect of Feedback on Stability of a control Remember 2
system.
9 Write in brief about Servomotors. Understand 1
10 Write in brief about Servomotors. Remember 1
Unit 3
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 What is PD controller? Remember 1
2 What does it mean a control system is being mentioned as Robust? Understand 2
3 Give the effects of PD control on the rise time and settling time of Understand 2
a control system.
4 How does the PD controller affect the bandwidth of a control Understand 1
system?
5 Give the limitations of Phase-Lead controller. Understand 1
6 How does the phase-lead controller affect the bandwidth of a Analyze 2
control system?
7 Give the general effects of phase-lead controller on rise and Analyze 3
settling time.
8 How does sensitivity function relate to the bandwidth of a system? Understand 3
9 How does the phase-lag controller affect the bandwidth? Analyze 3
10 Give the effects of phase-lag controller on the rise time and Understand 4
settling time of a control system.
Unit 4
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Write in brief about Control and Stability of an aircraft. Understand 6
2 Define Avionics. Understand 6
3 What are the main functions of Inertial sensors? Understand 6
4 What are the differences between reversible and irreversible Flight Understand 6
control system?
5 Write in brief about Pilots opinion rating. Understand 6
6 Write in brief about control task of pilot. Remember 6
7 Give the definition of the system type of linear time-invariant Understand 6
system.
8 Describe any two time response specifications. Remember 6
9 Describe any two frequency response specifications Understand 6
10 Write in brief about Full authority fly by wire system. Analyze 6
Unit 5
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Describe the functional block diagram of a roll control autopilot Understand 7
system.
2 Describe the functional block diagram of a pitch displacement Remember 6
autopilot system.
3 Define Pitch Attitude hold. Understand 6
4 State the generic aircraft transfer function for position feedback Understand
(control surface deflection).
5 State the generic aircraft transfer function for Rate Feedback (pitch Understand 7
rate).
6 Understand 6
7 What do you understand by Command track? Understand 7
8 Describe the functional block diagram for an Adaptive Remember 7
Controller.
9 What do you understand about Mach Hold/Attitude hold? Understand 6
10 Describe the functional block diagram for a Learning System. Remember 6
Unit 6
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 What are the limitations of classical control theory? Understand 1
2 Give two reasons for modelling system in state space. Remember 1
3 What is required to represent a system in state space? Understand 1
4 An eighth-order system would be represented in sate space with Remember 1
how many state equations?
5 What is meant by linear independence? Understand 1
6 What factors influence the choice of state variables in any system? Analyze 1
7 What is a convenient choice of state variables in electrical Understand 1
network?
8 What is meant by phase-variable form of state-equation? Remember 1
9 Draw the control configuration block diagram for a SISO system. Understand 1
10 Draw the control configuration block diagram for a MIMO Remember 1
system.
Unit 7
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for the Understand 1
system shown here.

2 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for the Remember 1
system shown here.

3 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for the Understand 1
system shown here.

4 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for the Remember 1
system shown here.

5 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for the Understand 1
system shown here.

6 List the steps followed in converting state space representation of Analyze 1

a system t canonical form.
7 Describe vector matrix representation of a system. Understand 1
8 What are the benefits of state space representation over Transfer Remember 1
function representation for a second order closed loop system?
9 List out the steps involved in converting a physical system, Understand 1
electrical or mechanical, into state space representation.
10 Define system matrix. Remember 1
Unit 8
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 What do you understand by the concept Stability augmentation? Remember 12
2 Write a short note on the digital implementation of analog Remember 12
controllers?
3 State the concept of Digital control. Understand 12
4 Draw the block diagram representation of a generic digital Remember 12
controller.
5 Draw the block diagram representation of a generic cascade digital Understand 12
controller.
6 What do you understand by the concept Sampling? Remember 12
7 Write short notes on digital integration rules. Remember 12
8 Explain how modern design techniques helps in designing SAS Understand 12
(Stability Augmentation System) as well as autopilots.
9 Define Optimal feedback gain. Remember 12
10 What are the characteristics of a Robust system? Understand 12

Group C (10 Marks questions)

Unit 1
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Functionally, how do closed-loop systems differ from open- Understand 1
loop system? Also give three examples of open loop systems.
2 Name and explain the two parts of a system response? Understand 1
3 Name and explain the three major design criteria for a control Remember 2
system.
4 Name and briefly explain the three approaches to the Understand 1
mathematical modeling of control systems.
5 Derive the Laplace transform of the following functions. Understand 1
a) u(t)
b) sin wt u(t)
c) tu(t)s
6 Using the Laplace transform pairs and the Laplace transform Analyze 2
theorems, derive the Laplace transforms for the following
time functions:

7 A system is described as the following differential equation Analyze 4

find the Transfer function of the same..
8 Name and describe the two ways in which we can plot the Understand 1
frequency response of a system.
9 Define. Remember 1
a) Bode Plot
b) Nyquist plot
c) Phasor
10 Define. Understand 2
a) Damped frequency
b) Settling time
c) Damping ratio
d) Rise time
e) Asymptote
Unit 2
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Name and explain the four components of a block diagram for a Understand 1
linear, time-invariant
system.
2 Name three basic forms for interconnecting subsystems and explain Understand 1
how the equivalent transfer function is found.
3 For a simple, second-order feedback control system of the type Analyze 4
shown in the following, describe the effect that variations of
forward-path gain, K, have on the transient response.

4 Reduce the block diagram shown in the figure to a Analyze 4

single transfer function, G(s) = C(s)/R(s).

5 What does the Routh-Hurwitz criterion tell us? Understand 1

6 Explain about the different types of transduces used in an Understand 1
aircraft with neat sketches.
7 Describe how many roots of the following polynomial are Remember 1
in the right half-plane, in the left half-plane, and on
the jw axis: and justify your answer.

8 How many roots of the following polynomial are Understand 1

in the right half-plane, in the left half-plane, and on
the jw-axis:

9 How many poles are in the right half-plane, in the Remember 1

left half-plane, and on the jv-axis for the open-loops system provided
below.
10 Using the Routh-Hurwitz criterion, tell how many closed-loop poles Understand 2
of the system shown in the following figure lie in the left half-plane,
in the right half-plane, and on the jw-axis.

Unit 3
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Define the common test signals employed in evaluating a Remember 3
system with the help of the graphical as well as mathematical
representation.
2 Explain the exact relationship between the static error constants and Understand 2
the steady state errors for ramp and parabolic inputs?
3 Define system type. The forward transfer function of a control Understand 2
system has three poles at _1;_2; and _3. What is the system type?
4 Define, in words, sensitivity and explain the goal of feedback- Understand 1
control-system engineering as it applies to sensitivity.
5 How are nonunity feedback systems analyzed and designed for Understand 1
steady-state errors? Is the forward-path actuating signal the system
error if the system has nonunity feedback? Justify your answers.
6 For the unity feedback system shown in the block diagram Analyze 3

having the transfer function:

Find the steady state errors for the following test inputs:
25u(t), 37tu(t).

Block diagram:

7 For the unity feedback system shown in the block diagram Analyze 4

having the transfer function:

Find the steady state errors for the following test inputs:
15u(t), 37t2u(t).

Block diagram:

8 Describe the kind of compensation which improves: Understand 3

a) Steady state error.
b) Transient response.
9 Cascade compensation to improve the steady-state error is based Analyze 3
upon what pole-zero placement of the compensator? Also, explain
the reasons for this placement.
10 What difference on the s-plane is noted between using a PD Understand 4
controller or using a lead network to improve the transient response?
Also explain What kind of compensation improves both steady-state
error and transient response?
Unit 4
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Explain in detail about the Control Augmentation System Understand 6
(CAS) of an aircraft with a neat block diagram of the same.
2 Explain in detail about the Simplified Control Augmentation Understand 6
System (CAS) of an aircraft with a neat block diagram of the
same.
3 Write in detail about the benefits in terms of flying qualities of Understand 6
an aircraft on the implementation of CAS.
4 Draw and explain the Simplified block diagram of the Understand 6
longitudinal Fly By Wire system deployed in F-16
5 Explain the usage and importance of typical Inner-Loop Understand 6
Stability and Control.
6 Explain in detail about the Outer-loop Autopilot/navigation Remember 6
Control.
7 Write in brief about: Understand 6
a) Bank angel hold
b) Altitude hold
8 Write in brief about: Remember 6
a) Heading hold
b) Pitch Attitude Hold
9 Write in brief about: Understand 6
a) Lead Compensator
b) Lag Compensator
10 Explain the concept of Lead-Lag compensator with the help of Analyze 6
a neat block diagram.
Unit 5
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 What are the advantages of Digital control? Understand 7
2 What are the disadvantages of digital control? Remember 6
3 Write in detail about Digital Control with the help of a neat Understand 6
block sketch.
4 Write in detail about Analog to Digital Conversion. Understand
5 Write in detail about Digital to Analog Conversion. Understand 7
6 Write in detail about Reversible Flight Control System Understand 6
7 Write in detail about Irreversible Flight Control system. Understand 7
8 Write in brief about: Remember 7
c) Heading hold
d) Pitch Attitude Hold
9 Write in brief about: Understand 6
c) Lead Compensator
d) Lag Compensator
10 Explain the concept of Lead-Lag compensator with the help of Remember 6
a neat block diagram.
 Unit 6
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Define: Blooms Course
a) State Taxonomy Outcomes
b) State variable
c) State vector
d) State space
2 What is to require to represent a system in state space and also Understand 1
explain why state space modelling is being proffered than any
other kind?
3 Find the transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/R(s) for the system Remember 1
represented in state space.

4 Find the transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/R(s) for the system Understand 1
represented in state space.

5 Find the state space representation of the system expressed as: Remember 1

Give your answer in vector matrix form.

6 Find the transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/R(s) for the following Understand 1
systems represented in state space:

7 Find the transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/R(s) for the following Analyze 1
systems represented in state space:

8 Find the transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/R(s) for the following Understand 1
systems represented in state space:
9 What do you understand by: Remember 1
a) Phase-variable
b) Linear independence
10 For computer aided modeling and analysis of a system state Understand 1
space representation is preferred more than other forms.
Explain your opinion about this statement.

Unit 7
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Find the state space representation of the system expressed as: Understand 1

Give your answer in vector matrix form.

2 Find the transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/R(s) for the following Remember 1
systems represented in state space:

3 Find the transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/R(s) for the following Understand 1
systems represented in state space:

4 Find the transfer function G(s) = Y(s)/R(s) for the following Remember 1
systems represented in state space:

5 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for Understand 1
the system shown here.
6 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for Analyze 1
the system shown here.

7 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for Understand 1
the system shown here.

8 Explain the steps followed in converting state space Remember 1

representation of a system to canonical form in detail.
9 Draw the control configuration block diagram for a MIMO Understand 1
system.
10 Find the state space representation in phase variable form and Remember 1
matrix form for the system shown here.

Unit 8
Sl. Questions Blooms Course
No Taxonomy Outcomes
1 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for Remember 12
the system shown here.

2 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for Remember 12
the system shown here.

3 Find the state space representation in phase variable form for Understand 12
the system shown here.
4 List the steps followed in converting state space representation Remember 12
of a system t canonical form.
5 Describe vector matrix representation of a system. Understand 12
6 Using the Laplace transform pairs and the Laplace transform Remember 12
theorems, derive the Laplace transforms for the following
time functions:

7 A system is described as the following differential equation Remember 12

find the Transfer function of the same..

8 Name and describe the two ways in which we can plot the Understand 12
frequency response of a system.
9 Define. Remember 12
d) Bode Plot
e) Nyquist plot
f) Phasor
10 Define. Understand 12
a) Digital control system
b) Microprocessor
c) Microcontroller
d) Digital signal processing