On the Equivalence of Sensory and Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion

Journal Article (2026)
Author(s)

S. Hafner (Technische Universität München, TU Delft - Control & Simulation)

T. De Ponti (TU Delft - Control & Simulation)

E. Smeur (TU Delft - Control & Simulation)

Research Group
Control & Simulation
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCSYS.2026.3669038
More Info
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Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Research Group
Control & Simulation
Journal title
IEEE Open Journal of Control Systems
Volume number
5
Pages (from-to)
136-148
Downloads counter
13
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Abstract

In the aerospace control domain, Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion (NDI)-based control laws are widely spread. As a variation to Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion (INDI), the sensory Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion (sNDI) method was recently developed. Both methods rely on replacing model knowledge with sensor measurements. However, the methods differ in how the pseudo-controls are allocated: INDI allocates them incrementally, while sNDI allocates them globally, with corresponding advantages and disadvantages. While INDI requires a restoring mechanism in the control allocation due to path dependency issues in overactuated nonlinear systems, sNDI does not experience this problem. In addition to the comparison, the paper demonstrates that both methods lead to identical results if restoring is applied in the control allocation of INDI. Even though sNDI and INDI with restoring can lead to limit cycles for theoretical non-linear overactuated systems, the practical applicability of this approach to transition electrical vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL) is demonstrated in flight tests of the Variable Skew Quad Plane.