Cooperative trajectory optimization of UAVs in approaching stage using feedback guidance methods

This paper mainly studies the problem of using UAVs to provide accurate remote target indication for hypersonic projectiles.Based on the optimal trajectory trends and feedback guidance methods,a new cooperative control algorithm is proposed to optimize trajectories of multi-UAVs for target tracking in approaching stage.Based on UAV kinematics and sensor performance models,optimal trajectory trends of UAVs are analyzed theoretically.Then,feedback guidance methods are proposed under the optimal observation trends of UAVs in the approaching target stage,producing trajectories with far less computational complexity and performance very close to the best-known trajectories.Next,the sufficient condition for the UAV to form the optimal observation configuration by the feedback guidance method is presented,which guarantees that the proposed method can optimize the observation trajectory of the UAV in approaching stage.Finally,the feedback guidance method is numerically simulated.Simulation results demonstrate that the estimation performance of the feedback guidance method is superior to the Lyapunov guidance vector field(LGVF)method and verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.Additionally,compared with the receding horizon optimization(RHO)method,the proposed method has the same optimization ability as the RHO method and better real-time performance.

Survey of autonomous guidance methods for powered planetary landing

This paper summarizes the autonomous guidance methods(AGMs)for pinpoint soft landing on celestial surfaces.We first review the development of powered descent guidance methods,focusing on their contributions for dealing with constraints and enhancing computational efficiency.With the increasing demand for reusable launchers and more scientific returns from space exploration,pinpoint soft landing has become a basic requirement.Unlike the kilometer-level precision for previous activities,the position accuracy of future planetary landers is within tens of meters of a target respecting all constraints of velocity and attitude,which is a very difficult task and arouses renewed interest in AGMs.This paper states the generalized three-and six-degree-of-freedom optimization problems in the powered descent phase and compares the features of three typical scenarios,i.e.,the lunar,Mars,and Earth landing.On this basis,the paper details the characteristics and adaptability of AGMs by comparing aspects of analytical guidance methods,numerical optimization algorithms,and learning-based methods,and discusses the convexification treatment and solution strategies for non-convex problems.Three key issues related to AGM application,including physical feasibility,model accuracy,and real-time performance,are presented afterward for discussion.Many space organizations,such as those in the United States,China,France,Germany,and Japan,have also developed free-flying demonstrators to carry out related research.The guidance methods which have been tested on these demonstrators are briefly introduced at the end of the paper.

Robust guidance method with terminal impact angle constraint for autonomous underwater vehicle

Based on robust control design method,a variable structure guidance method is proposed for autonomous underwater vehicle(AUV) during the guiding course with terminal impact angle constraint.Considering the intercept geometry,a sliding mode controller is proposed for controlling the hne of sight angle rate and the impact angle,based on the principle which controls the line of sight angle rate to approach zero and the terminal angle to approach the expected value more quickly as the distance decreases.Simulation results show that,with the application of the proposed method,small miss distance is achieved and the expected impact angle is reached.In addition,the system is robust to the target maneuvering.

Use of the Method of Guidance by a Required Velocity in Control of Spacecraft Attitude

We apply the method of guidance by a required velocity for solving the optimal control problem over spacecraft’s reorientation from known initial attitude into a required final attitude.We suppose that attitude control is carried out by impulse jet engines.For optimization of fuel consumption,the controlling moments are calculated and formed according to the method of free trajectories together with principle of iterative control using the quaternions for generating commands to actuators.Optimal solution corresponds to the principle“acceleration-free rotation-separate corrections-free rotation-braking”.Rotation along a hitting trajectory is supported by insignificant correction of the uncontrolled motion at discrete instants between segments of acceleration and braking.Various strategies of forming the correction impulses during stage of free motion are suggested.Improving accuracy of achievement of spacecraft's final position is reached by terminal control using information about current attitude and angular velocity measurements for determining an instant of beginning of braking(condition for start of braking based on actual motion parameters is formulated in analytical form).The described method is universal and invariant relative to moments of inertia.Developed laws of attitude control concern the algorithms with prognostic model,the synthesized control modes are invariant with respect to both external perturbations and parametric errors.Results of mathematical modeling are presented that demonstrate practical feasibility and high efficiency of designed algorithms.

Analytical reentry guidance framework based on swarm intelligence optimization and altitude-energy profile

Aimed at improving the real-time performance of guidance instruction generation,an analytical hypersonic reentry guidance framework is presented.The key steps of the novel guidance framework are the parameterization of reentry guidance problems and the optimization of parameters.First,a quintic polynomial function of energy was designed to describe the altitude profile.Then,according to the altitude-energy profile,the altitude,velocity,flight path angle,and bank angle were obtained analytically,which naturally met the terminal constraints.In addition,the angle of the attack profile was determined using the velocity parameter.The swarm intelligent optimization algorithms were used to optimize the parameters.The path constraints were enforced by the penalty function method.Finally,extensive simulations were carried out in both nominal and dispersed cases,and the simulation results showed that the proposed guidance framework was effective,high-precision,and robust in different scenarios.

Integrated method of guidance,control and morphing for hypersonic morphing vehicle in glide phase

The morphing technology of hypersonic vehicle improved the flight performance by changing aerodynamic characteristics with shape deformations,but the design of guidance and control system with morphing laws remained to be explored.An Integrated of Guidance,Control and Morphing(IGCM)method for Hypersonic Morphing Vehicle(HMV)was developed in this paper.The IGCM method contributed to an effective solution of morphing characteristic to improve flight performance and reject the disturbance for guidance and control system caused by the morphing system for HMV in gliding phase.The IGCM models were established based on the motion models and aerodynamic models of the variable span vehicle.Then the IGCM method was designed by adaptive block dynamic surface back-stepping method with stability proof.The parallel controlled simulations’results showed the effectiveness in accomplishing the flight mission of IGCM method in glide phase with smaller terminal errors.The velocity loss of HMV was reduced by 32.8%which inferred less flight time and larger terminal flight velocity than invariable span vehicle.Under the condition of large deviations of aerodynamic parameters and atmospheric density,the robustness of IGCM method with variable span was verified.

Ideal proportional navigation for exoatmospheric interception

Ideal proportional navigation （IPN） is a natural choice for exoatmospheric interception for its mighty capture capability and ease of implementation. The closed-form solution of two- dimensional ideal proportional navigation was conducted in previous public literature, whereas the practical interception happens in the three-dimensional space. A novel set of relative dynamic equations is adopted in this paper, which is with the advantage of decoupling relative motion in the instantaneous rotation plane of the line of sight from the rotation of this plane. The dimension-reduced IPN is constructed in this instantaneous plane, which functions as a three-dimensional guidance law. The trajectory features of dimension-reduced IPN are explored, and the capture regions of dimension-reduced IPN with limited acceleration against nonmaneuvering and maneuvering targets are analyzed by using phase plane method. It is proved that the capture capability of IPN is much stronger than true proportional navigation （TPN）, no matter the target maneuvers or not. Finally, simulation results indicate that IPN is more effective than TPN in exoatmospheric interception scenarios.