This image shows Walter Fichter

Walter Fichter

Prof. Dr.-Ing.

Director
Institute of Flight Mechanics and Control

Contact

+49 711 685 67060
 +49 711 685 66670

Pfaffenwaldring 27
70569 Stuttgart
Germany
Room: 2.048

  1. A. Vigneron, S. Delchambre, T. Ziegler, and W. Fichter, “Design of low-bandwidth attitude controllers for time-optimal transient behaviour,” in Proceedings of the 44th Annual American Astronautical Society Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, 2022, M. Sandnas and D. B. Spencer, Eds., in Proceedings of the 44th Annual American Astronautical Society Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, 2022. Springer, 2024, pp. 1493–1509. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-51928-4.
  2. A. Steinleitner, B. Rothaupt, and W. Fichter, “Two Testbeds for Aerospace GNC Education,” IFAC, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2024.08.454.
  3. P. Euringer, N. Houba, G. Hechenblaikner, O. Mandel, F. Soualle, and W. Fichter, “Compensation of front-end and modulation delays in phase and ranging measurements for time-delay interferometry,” Physical review. D, Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology, vol. 109, no. 8, Art. no. 8, 2024, doi: 10.1103/PhysRevD.109.083024.
  4. P. Euringer, G. Hechenblaikner, F. Soualle, and W. Fichter, “Performance Analysis of Sequential Carrier- and Code-Tracking Receivers in the Context of High-Precision Spaceborne Metrology Systems,” IEEE transactions on instrumentation and measurement, vol. 73, p. 1000510, 2024, doi: 10.1109/TIM.2023.3332388.
  5. S. Özkurt and W. Fichter, “Gust Reconstruction for Rotorcraft Based on Closed-Loop Shaping,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, 2023, doi: 10.2514/1.G007510.
  6. S. Özkurt and W. Fichter, “Flugregelungssysteme von Drehflüglern und ihr Einfluss auf die Kinetose von Passagieren,” in Humanschwingungen 2023 : Vibrations- und Schwingungseinwirkungen auf den Menschen, in Humanschwingungen 2023 : Vibrations- und Schwingungseinwirkungen auf den Menschen. VDI Verlag, 2023, pp. 77–88. doi: 10.51202/9783181024119.
  7. S. Özkurt, T. Burkhardt, F. Schimpf, and W. Fichter, “The Impact of Control Augmentation and Stability Augmentation System Parameters on Kinetosis of Rotorcraft Passengers,” in The future of vertical flight, in The future of vertical flight. Curran Associates, Inc., 2023, p. 1215.
  8. O. Pfeifle and W. Fichter, “Minimum Power Control Allocation for Incremental Control of Over-Actuated Transition Aircraft,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 46, no. 2, Art. no. 2, 2023, doi: 10.2514/1.G006929.
  9. S. Notter, F. Schimpf, G. Müller, and W. Fichter, “Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning Approach for Autonomous Cross-Country Soaring,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 46, no. 1, Art. no. 1, 2023, doi: 10.2514/1.G006746.
  10. S. Notter, C. Gall, G. Müller, A. Ahmad, and W. Fichter, “Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach for Integrated Updraft Mapping and Exploitation,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 46, no. 10, Art. no. 10, 2023, doi: 10.2514/1.G007572.
  11. N. Houba, S. Delchambre, G. Hechenblaikner, T. Ziegler, and W. Fichter, “Time-delay interferometry infinity for tilt-to-length noise estimation in LISA,” Classical and quantum gravity, vol. 40, no. 10, Art. no. 10, 2023, doi: 10.1088/1361-6382/accbfc.
  12. S. Özkurt, C. Fischer, H. Bülthoff, and W. Fichter, “On the Impact of Flight Control Systems on Kinetosis of Helicopter Passengers,” in Proceedings of the Vertical Flight Society 78th Annual Forum, in Proceedings of the Vertical Flight Society 78th Annual Forum. Vertical Flight Society, 2022. doi: 10.4050/F-0078-2022-17522.
  13. A. Vigneron, S. Delchambre, T. Ziegler, and W. Fichter, “Initialization of linear controllers for constrained time-optimal attitude control,” in AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum, in AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2022, p. 1392. doi: 10.2514/6.2022-1392.
  14. M. Schneider and W. Fichter, “Radar-Aided Inertial Navigation with Delayed Measurements,” in CEAS EuroGNC 2022, in CEAS EuroGNC 2022. CEAS, 2022, p. CEAS-GNC-2022-047. [Online]. Available: https://eurognc.ceas.org/archive/EuroGNC2022/html/CEAS-GNC-2022-047.html
  15. M. R. Schlichting, S. Notter, and W. Fichter, “Long Short-Term Memory for Spatial Encoding in Multi-Agent Path Planning,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 45, no. 5, Art. no. 5, 2022, doi: 10.2514/1.G006129.
  16. F. Pinchetti, O. Pfeifle, S. Notter, and W. Fichter, “Geofencing for Optionally Piloted Aircraft Through Automatic Execution of Smooth Evasive Maneuvers,” in 22nd IFAC Symposium on Automatic Control in Aerospace ACA 2022, B. Subudhi, Ed., in 22nd IFAC Symposium on Automatic Control in Aerospace ACA 2022. Elsevier, 2022, pp. 25–30. doi: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2023.03.005.
  17. O. Pfeifle, S. Notter, W. Fichter, D. P. Bergmann, J. Denzel, and A. Strohmayer, “Verifying the Effect of Wingtip Propellers on Drag Through In-Flight Measurements,” Journal of aircraft, vol. 59, no. 2, Art. no. 2, 2022, doi: 10.2514/1.C036490.
  18. S. Notter, G. Müller, and W. Fichter, “Integrated Updraft Localization and Exploitation : End-to-End Type Reinforcement Learning Approach,” in Proceedings of the 2022 CEAS EuroGNC conference, in Proceedings of the 2022 CEAS EuroGNC conference. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt, 2022, p. CEAS-GNC-2022-077. [Online]. Available: https://eurognc.ceas.org/archive/EuroGNC2022/html/CEAS-GNC-2022-077.html
  19. N. Houba, S. Delchambre, T. Ziegler, G. Hechenblaikner, and W. Fichter, “LISA spacecraft maneuver design to estimate tilt-to-length noise during gravitational wave events,” Physical Review. D, covering particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology, vol. 106, no. 2, Art. no. 2, 2022, doi: 10.1103/PhysRevD.106.022004.
  20. N. Houba, S. Delchambre, T. Ziegler, G. Hechenblaikner, and W. Fichter, “LISA Point-Ahead Angle Control for Optimal Tilt-to-Length Noise Estimation,” 2022. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2208.11033.
  21. N. Houba, S. Delchambre, T. Ziegler, and W. Fichter, “Optimal Estimation of Tilt-to-Length Noise for Spaceborne Gravitational-Wave Observatories,” Journal of guidance control and dynamics, vol. 45, no. 6, Art. no. 6, 2022, doi: 10.2514/1.G006064.
  22. R. Geshnizjani and W. Fichter, “Steering Law for Control Moment Gyroscopes with Online Torque Capacity Maximization,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, 2022, doi: 10.2514/1.G005694.
  23. A. Vigneron, S. Delchambre, T. Ziegler, and W. Fichter, “Transient-Suppressing Initialization for Low-Bandwidth Attitude Controllers,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 44, no. 11, Art. no. 11, 2021, doi: 10.2514/1.G005948.
  24. M. Schneider and W. Fichter, “Multi-Hypothesis Guidance With Interacting Multiple Model Filter,” in AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum, in AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2021. doi: 10.2514/6.2022-1846.
  25. T. Rath and W. Fichter, “Flight Control Design for the Systematic Improvement of Ride Qualities,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, vol. 66, no. 2, Art. no. 2, 2021, doi: 10.4050/JAHS.66.022003.
  26. O. Pfeifle et al., “Distributed Electric Propulsion for Yaw Control : Testbeds, Control Approach, and Flight Testing,” in AIAA Aviation 2021 Forum, in AIAA Aviation 2021 Forum. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2021, p. 3192. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-3192.
  27. O. Pfeifle and W. Fichter, “Cascaded Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion for Three-Dimensional Spline-Tracking with Wind Compensation,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 44, no. 8, Art. no. 8, 2021, doi: 10.2514/1.G005785.
  28. O. Pfeifle and W. Fichter, “Energy Optimal Control Allocation for INDI Controlled Transition Aircraft,” in AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum, in AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2021. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-1457.
  29. K. Holder et al., “Digital Development Process for the Drive System of a Balanced Two-Wheel Scooter,” Vehicles, vol. 3, no. 1, Art. no. 1, 2021, doi: 10.3390/vehicles3010003.
  30. R. Geshnizjani, A. Kornienko, T. Ziegler, J. Löhr, and W. Fichter, “Torque Optimal Steering of Control Moment Gyroscopes for Agile Spacecraft,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 44, no. 3, Art. no. 3, 2021, doi: 10.2514/1.G005118.
  31. D. P. Bergmann, J. Denzel, O. Pfeifle, S. Notter, W. Fichter, and A. Strohmayer, “In-flight Lift and Drag Estimation of an Unmanned Propeller-Driven Aircraft,” Aerospace, vol. 8, no. 2, Art. no. 2, 2021, doi: 10.3390/aerospace8020043.
  32. S. Özkurt et al., “From Helicopter Vibrations to Passenger Perceptions : A Closer Look on Standards,” in Proceedings of the Vertical Flight Society 76th Annual Forum, in Proceedings of the Vertical Flight Society 76th Annual Forum. Vertical Flight Society, 2020. doi: 10.4050/F-0076-2020-16433.
  33. J. Stephan, O. Pfeifle, S. Notter, F. Pinchetti, and W. Fichter, “Precise Tracking of Extended Three-Dimensional Dubins Paths for Fixed-Wing Aircraft,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 43, no. 12, Art. no. 12, 2020, doi: 10.2514/1.G005240.
  34. J. Stephan, S. Notter, O. Pfeifle, F. Pinchetti, and W. Fichter, “Spline Trajectory Planning and Guidance for Fixed-Wing Drones,” in AIAA Scitech 2020 Forum, in AIAA Scitech 2020 Forum. ARC, 2020, p. AIAA 2020-0372. doi: 10.2514/6.2020-0372.
  35. S. Notter, P. Groß, P. Schrapel, and W. Fichter, “Multiple Thermal Updraft Estimation and Observability Analysis,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, vol. 43, no. 3, Art. no. 3, 2020, doi: 10.2514/1.G004205.
  36. F. A. King, A. Steinwandel, and W. Fichter, “Generalization of Active In-Flight Tracking Control to theN-Bladed Helicopter Rotor,” Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, vol. 43, no. 7, Art. no. 7, 2020, doi: 10.2514/1.G004087.
  37. J. Stephan and W. Fichter, “Fast Exact Redistributed Pseudoinverse Method for Linear Actuation Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, vol. 27, no. 1, Art. no. 1, 2019, doi: 10.1109/TCST.2017.2765622.
  38. A. Steinwandel and W. Fichter, “Linear Analysis of Vibration Reduction Using an Active N-Bladed Helicopter Rotor,” Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics, vol. 42, no. 3, Art. no. 3, 2019, doi: 10.2514/1.G003512.
  39. L. Schmitt and W. Fichter, “Globally Valid Posterior Cramer-Rao Bound for Three-Dimensional Bearings-Only Filtering,” IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, vol. 55, no. 4, Art. no. 4, 2019, doi: 10.1109/TAES.2018.2881352.
  40. A. Joos and W. Fichter, “Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Parameters and Path Geometry,” Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics, vol. 42, no. 1, Art. no. 1, 2019, doi: 10.2514/1.G003655.
  41. P. Groß, S. Notter, and W. Fichter, “Estimating Total Energy Compensated Climb Rates from Position Trajectories,” in AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum, in AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2019. doi: 10.2514/6.2019-0828.
  42. J. Stephan, L. Schmitt, and W. Fichter, “Linear Parameter-Varying Control for Quadrotors in Case of Complete Actuator Loss,” Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics, vol. 41, no. 10, Art. no. 10, 2018, doi: 10.2514/1.G003441.
  43. A. Schleicher et al., “In-orbit performance of the LISA Pathfinder drag-free and attitude control system,” CEAS Space Journal, vol. 10, no. 4, Art. no. 4, 2018, doi: 10.1007/s12567-018-0204-x.
  44. A. Joos and W. Fichter, “Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Parameters and Path Geometry,” in AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference 2018, in AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference 2018, vol. 4. Curran, 2018, pp. 2571–2582. doi: 10.2514/6.2018-1585.
  45. L. Schmitt and W. Fichter, “Cramer-Rao Lower Bound for State-Constrained Nonlinear Filtering,” IEEE signal processing letters, vol. 24, no. 12, Art. no. 12, 2017, doi: 10.1109/LSP.2017.2764540.
  46. A. Joos, C. Seiferth, L. Schmitt, and W. Fichter, “Parameters for Nonlinear Model Predictive Control in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Path-Planning Applications,” Journal of guidance control and dynamics, vol. 40, no. 2, Art. no. 2, 2017, doi: 10.2514/1.G000311.
  47. M. Trittler, T. Rothermel, and W. Fichter, “Autopilot for Landing Small Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with Optical Sensors,” Journal of guidance control and dynamics, vol. 39, no. 9, Art. no. 9, 2016, doi: 10.2514/1.G000261.
  48. C. Seiferth, A. Joos, M. Frangenberg, and W. Fichter, “Predictive Motion Planning with Pipelined Feature-Based Obstacle Avoidance,” Journal of guidance control and dynamics, vol. 39, no. 4, Art. no. 4, 2016, doi: 10.2514/1.G001134.
  49. L. Schmitt and W. Fichter, “Continuous Singularity Free Approach to the Three-Dimensional Bearings-Only Tracking Problem,” Journal of guidance control and dynamics, vol. 39, no. 12, Art. no. 12, 2016, doi: 10.2514/1.G000362.
  50. L. Schmitt and W. Fichter, “Observability Criteria and Null-Measurement Kalman Filter for Vision-Aided Inertial Navigation,” Journal of guidance control and dynamics, vol. 39, no. 4, Art. no. 4, 2016, doi: 10.2514/1.G001146.
  51. M. Armano et al., “Sub-Femto-g Free Fall for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatories: LISA Pathfinder Results,” Physical review letters, vol. 116, no. 23, Art. no. 23, 2016, doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.231101.
  52. F. Weimer, M. Frangenberg, and W. Fichter, “Pipelined Particle Filter with Nonobservability Measure for Attitude and Velocity Estimation,” Journal of guidance control and dynamics, vol. 38, no. 3, Art. no. 3, 2015, doi: 10.2514/1.G000238.
  53. J. Grzymisch and W. Fichter, “Optimal Rendezvous Guidance with Enhanced Bearings-Only Observability,” Journal of guidance control and dynamics, vol. 38, no. 6, Art. no. 6, 2015, doi: 10.2514/1.G000822.
  54. J. Grzymisch and W. Fichter, “Nonlinear Pseudo-Measurement Filtering for In-Orbit Bearings-Only Navigation,” IEEE transactions on aerospace and electronic systems, vol. 51, no. 4, Art. no. 4, 2015, doi: 10.1109/TAES.2015.130823.

Walter Fichter is a professor of flight mechanics and controls. He has 17 years of industry experience as a development engineer and project manager in the field of guidance, control, and dynamics with MBB, Dornier (now both Airbus Defence and Space), and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan. In 2015 he spent a Sabbatical at Stanford University. In total, he was involved in the development of six different spacecraft control systems that were or still are operational. He filed about 14 patents. His major personal engineering contributions include:

  • Design and development of a dynamic momentum bias control system for spacecraft. This was a world first and key contribution to the Globalstar satellite constellation.
  • Conception of the functional architecture and navigation and filtering algorithms of a special spaceborne GPS receiver (the MosaicGPS receiver), that can be applied from low Earth to geostationary orbits. This receiver flies on many spacecraft and is being sold to date.
  • The design of the drag-free control system of the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. This is the world’ s first drag-free system with cubic test masses and one of the most complex control system of all ESA spacecraft.

 In the past 10 years his research interests include autonomous flight and unmanned vehicles, intelligent flight for general aviation aircraft, and dynamics and controls of helicopters.

 Mr. Fichter is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and member of the advisory board of the AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics. Moreover, he is an active pilot for airplanes (EU PPL/IR, US CPL/IR).

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