Path planning for taxi of carrier aircraft launching

Launching efficiency is an important index to measure the fighting capacity of an aircraft carrier. The study on path planning for taxi of carrier aircraft is of great significance for enhancing the launching efficiency. Considering the launching efficiency and the safety in operation of carrier aircraft launching and taking into account the carrier aircraft maneuver performance, deck environment and feature of mission, we proposed a conceptual model which contains the key elements of path planning for taxi of carrier aircraft. Subsequently, the objective function for the path planning problem and its mathematical model containing various constraints were established. With the A * search algorithm, a dynamic weight heuristic function was designed. According to the characteristic of path planning model for taxi of carrier aircraft, a simple and effective detection method was introduced. Finally, a feasible path for taxi of carrier aircraft, which meets the constraints, was presented. Taking the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier as an example, the paths for taxi of carrier aircraft launching from elevators to catapults were planned. Simulation results demonstrated the rationality of the model and the effectiveness of the algorithm.

Obstacle avoidance and path planning for carrier aircraft launching

Abstract Launching safety and efficiency are important indexes to measure the fighting capacity of carrier. The study on path planning for taxi of carrier aircraft launching under actual deck environ ment is of great significance. In actual deck scheduling, manual command is applied to taxi of carrier aircraft, which has negative effects on the safety of staff and carrier aircraft launching. In consideration of both the safety and efficiency of carrier aircraft launching, the key elements of the problem are abstracted based on the analysis of deck environment, carrier aircraft maneuver performance and task requirements. According to the problem description, the mathematical model is established including various constraints. The carrier aircraft and the obstacles are reasonably simplified as circle and polygons respectively. What＇s more, the proposed collision detection model reduces the calculations. Aimed at the features of model, the theory of model predictive control （MPC） is applied to the path search. Then a dynamic weight heuristic function is designed and a dynamic multistep optimization algorithm is proposed. Taking the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier as an example, the paths from parking place to catapult are planned, which indicate the rationality of the model and the effectiveness of the algorithm by comparing the planning results under different simulation environments. The main contribution of research is the establishment of obstacle avoidance and path planning model. In addition, it provides the solution of model and technological foundations for comprehensive command and real-time decision-making of the carrier aircraft.

Study of Multi-objective Fuzzy Optimization for Path Planning

During path planning, it is necessary to satisfy the requirements of multiple objectives. Multi-objective synthesis is based on the need of flight mission and subjectivity inclination of decision-maker. The decision-maker, however, has illegibility for under- standing the requirements of multiple objectives and the subjectivity inclination. It is important to develop a reasonable cost performance index for describing the illegibility of the decision-maker in multi-objective path planning. Based on Voronoi dia- gram method for the path planning, this paper studies the synthesis method of the multi-objective cost performance index. Ac- cording to the application of the cost performance index to the path planning based on Voronoi diagram method, this paper ana- lyzes the cost performance index which has been referred to at present. The analysis shows the insufficiency of the cost per- formance index at present, i.e., it is difficult to synthesize sub-objective flmctions because of the great disparity of the sub-objective fimctions. Thus, a new approach is developed to optimize the cost performance index with the multi-objective fuzzy optimization strategy, and an improved performance index is established, which could coordinate the weight conflict of the sub-objective functions. Finally, the experimental result shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Multi-body dynamic system simulation of carrier-based aircraft ski-jump takeoff

The flight safety is threatened by the special flight conditions and the low speed of carrier-based aircraft ski-jump takeoff. The aircraft carrier motion, aircraft dynamics, landing gears and wind field of sea state are comprehensively considered to dispose this multidiscipline intersection problem. According to the particular naval operating environment of the carrier-based aircraft ski-jump takeoff, the integrated dynamic simulation models of multi-body system are developed, which involves the movement entities of the carrier, the aircraft and the landing gears, and involves takeoff instruction, control system and the deck wind disturbance. Based on Matlab/Simulink environment, the multi-body system simulation is realized. The validity of the model and the rationality of the result are verified by an example simulation of carrier-based aircraft ski-jump takeoff. The simulation model and the software are suitable for the study of the multidiscipline intersection problems which are involved in the performance, flight quality and safety of carrier-based aircraft takeoff, the effects of landing gear loads, parameters of carrier deck, etc.