Optimal midcourse trajectory cluster generation and trajectory modification for hypersonic interceptions

The hypersonic interception in near space is a great challenge because of the target’s unpredictable trajectory, which demands the interceptors of trajectory cluster coverage of the predicted area and optimal trajectory modification capability aiming at the consistently updating predicted impact point(PIP) in the midcourse phase. A novel midcourse optimal trajectory cluster generation and trajectory modification algorithm is proposed based on the neighboring optimal control theory. Firstly, the midcourse trajectory optimization problem is introduced; the necessary conditions for the optimal control and the transversality constraints are given.Secondly, with the description of the neighboring optimal trajectory existence theory(NOTET), the neighboring optimal control(NOC)algorithm is derived by taking the second order partial derivations with the necessary conditions and transversality conditions. The revised terminal constraints are reversely integrated to the initial time and the perturbations of the co-states are further expressed with the states deviations and terminal constraints modifications.Thirdly, the simulations of two different scenarios are carried out and the results prove the effectiveness and optimality of the proposed method.

Optimal midcourse trajectory planning considering the capture region

An optimal midcourse trajectory planning approach that considers the capture region（CR） of the terminal guidance is proposed in this article based on the Gauss pseudospectral method（GPM）. Firstly, the planar CR of the proportional navigation in terminal guidance is analyzed and innovatively introduced in the midcourse trajectory planning problems, with the collision triangle（CT） serving as the ideal terminal states parameters of the midcourse phase, and the CR area serving as the robustness against target maneuvers. Secondly, the midcourse trajectory planning problem that considers the path, terminal and control constraints is formulated and the well-developed GPM is used to generate the nominal trajectory that meets the CR demands. The interceptor will reshape the trajectory only when the former CR fails to cover the target, which has loosened the critical demand for frequent trajectory modification. Finally, the simulations of four different scenarios are carried out and the results prove the effectiveness and optimality of the proposed method.

INVESTIGATION OF TIGHTLY COUPLED SINS/GPS INTEGRATION MIDCOURSE GUIDANCE FOR AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES

The applied problems of SINS/GPS integration navigation system existing in midcourse guidance of air to air missiles have been investigated recently. In comparison with those investigations existing in current publications, a new tightly coupled SINS/GPS integration navigation system for air to air missiles, based on the decorrelated pseudo range approach, is presented in this paper. Because of high jamming and dynamic of air to air missiles, inertial velocity aiding GPS receiver is used to provide a more accurate, jam resistant measurement for midcourse guidance systems. A tracking error estimator is designed to distinguish the correlation that existed between pseudo range measurements and inertial information. It is found better to regard inertial velocity aiding errors as the noise of which statistical properties are unknown. So using mixed Kalman/minimax filtering theory, one can obtain the new tracking error estimator with simple and robust algorithm through constructing a composite filter consisting of two parts: Kalman filter for the noise of known statistics and minimax filter for the unknown. In order to ensure this simple estimator stability, a new method is proposed to choose its parameters, based on Khargonekars work. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the given method also ensures the proposed estimator optimality. All the work mentioned above is involved in the tightly coupled SINS/GPS integration midcourse system design in which a set of low accuracy inertial components is shared by SINS and autopilot. Simulation results of a certain type of air to air missile are presented. Due to decorrelation by the tracking error estimator, only small white noise of pseudo range measurements remains. So it is shown that application of the new midcourse guidance system results in better guidance accuracy, higher jam resistance.

Aero-thermal heating constrained midcourse guidance using state-constrained model predictive static programming method

This paper proposes a multiple-constraints-guaranteed midcourse guidance law for the interception of the hypersonic targets. In traditional midcourse law design, the constraints of the aero-thermal heating are rarely taken into consideration. The performance of the infrared detection system may be degraded and the instability of the flight control system may be induced.To address this problem, a state-constrained model predictive static programming method is introduced such that both terminal constraints(position and angle) and optimal energy consumption can be ensured. As a result, a sub-optimal midcourse guidance,guaranteeing the aforementioned multiple-constraints to be never violated, is synthesized. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Wideband electromagnetic characteristics modeling and analysis of missile targets in ballistic midcourse

The wideband electromagnetic characteristics of missile targets in midcourse are the foundation of midcourse attack-defense confrontation. This paper proposes a novel electromagnetic scattering modeling method for midcourse targets based on a pre- cise scattering center model, in which the nonideal scattering phenomenon, shielding effect and micro-motion are taken into consideration for the first time. Firstly, a precise scattering center model incorporating both the sliding scattering and artist- tropic scattering is established. Then the change rule of the target attitude is generalized, and a checking method of the scatter- ing center shielding effect is proposed for rotationally symmetric targets. Afterwards, a novel dynamic electromagnetic scat- tering model is presented, where the scattering center model updates along with the variation of the target attitude and can characterize the change of the electromagnetic characteristics of midcourse targets exactly. Finally, in light of the established model, the dynamic electromagnetic characteristics within different attitude angle bounds are analyzed by stages, and some useful conclusions are obtained. Experiment results from the measured data in anechoic chamber verify the validity of the proposed modeling method and relevant analysis.

Midcourse correction of Earth-Moon distant retrograde orbit transfer trajectories based on high-order state transition tensors

Midcourse correction design is key to space transfers in the cislunar space.Autonomous guidance has garnered significant attention for its promise to decrease the dependence on ground control systems.This study addresses the problem of midcourse corrections for Earth-Moon transfer orbits based on high-order state transition tensors(STTs).The scenarios considered are direct Earth-Moon transfers and low-energy transfers to lunar distant retrograde orbits(DROs),where the latter involve weak stability boundary(WSB)and lunar gravity assist(LGA)techniques.Semi-analytical formulas are provided for computing the trajectory correction maneuvers(TCMs)using high-order STTs derived using the differential algebraic method.Monte Carlo simulations are performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.Compared with existing explicit guidance algorithms,the STT-based approach is much cheaper computationally and features fewer final position errors.These results are promising for fast and efficient orbital autonomous correction guidance approaches in the cislunar space.

INTERCEPT OPTIMIZATION OF EXO-ATMOSPHERIC INTERCEPTOR BASED ON GENETIC ALGORITHM

An intercept optimization approach of the exo-atmospheric interceptor is proposed by the middle and terminal flight stages. Firstly, the dynamic models of the exo-atmospheric interceptor in middle and terminal flight stages are constructed ; and the velocity gain midcourse guidance law and the robust variable structure terminal guidance law are designed. Then the optimization parameters and their constraints affecting the intercept performance are determined. The genetic algorithm （GA） with the advantage of global optimization is used to deal with the intercept optimization problem. The performance index of the optimization is composed of the minimum fuel consumption and the minimum miss distance of the interception. Finally, optimization results of GA and the complex algorithm （CA） are compared. Simulation results show that compared with the traditional opti- mization method, GA can converge to the global optimization better in solving the complex constrained nonlinear combinatorial optimization of the exo-atmospheric interceptor, and reduce the fuel consumption and the miss distance.

QPSO-based algorithm of CSO joint infrared super-resolution and trajectory estimation

The midcourse ballistic closely spaced objects（CSO） create blur pixel-cluster on the space-based infrared focal plane,making the super-resolution of CSO quite necessary.A novel algorithm of CSO joint super-resolution and trajectory estimation is presented.The algorithm combines the focal plane CSO dynamics and radiation models,proposes a novel least square objective function from the space and time information,where CSO radiant intensity is excluded and initial dynamics（position and velocity） are chosen as the model parameters.Subsequently,the quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization（QPSO） is adopted to optimize the objective function to estimate model parameters,and then CSO focal plane trajectories and radiant intensities are computed.Meanwhile,the estimated CSO focal plane trajectories from multiple space-based infrared focal planes are associated and filtered to estimate the CSO stereo ballistic trajectories.Finally,the performance（CSO estimation precision of the focal plane coordinates,radiant intensities,and stereo ballistic trajectories,together with the computation load） of the algorithm is tested,and the results show that the algorithm is effective and feasible.

Discussion on neighborhood optimal trajectory online correction algorithm and its application range

This paper presents a neighborhood optimal trajectory online correction algorithm considering terminal time variation,and investigates its application range.Firstly,the motion model of midcourse guidance is established,and the online trajectory correction-regenerating strategy is introduced.Secondly,based on the neighborhood optimal control theory,a neighborhood optimal trajectory online correction algorithm considering the terminal time variation is proposed by adding the consideration of terminal time variation to the traditional neighborhood optimal trajectory correction method.Thirdly,the Monte Carlo simulation method is used to analyze the application range of the algorithm,which provides a basis for the division of application domain of the online correction algorithm and the online regeneration algorithm of midcourse guidance trajectory.Finally,the simulation results show that the algorithm has high real-time performance,and the online correction trajectory can meet the requirements of terminal constraint change.The application range of the algorithm is obtained through Monte Carlo simulation.

Coverage-based cooperative target acquisition for hypersonic interceptions

This paper presents a novel coverage-based cooperative target acquisition algorithm for hypersonic interceptions. Firstly, the difficulties in the hypersonic trajectory prediction are introduced which invalidate the conventionally used predicted impact point based mid-course guidance and seeker acquisition. Secondly, in order to optimally estimate and predict the target trajectory information, the interacting multiple model(IMM) algorithm is used with the constant velocity(CV) model, the constant acceleration(CA) model and the Singer model serving as the model set. The target states are described with the probability density function(PDF) based on the IMM prediction. Thirdly, the interceptor seeker target acquisition model is established which considers the blur edge region of the field of view. The cooperative target acquisition algorithm is designed by maximizing the interceptor seekers cooperative coverage of the target high probability region(HPR). Finally, digital simulations prove the effectiveness of the proposed method and reveal that the real challenge in the hypersonic target acquisition is the poor trajectory prediction accuracy which may further result to the unsteadiness of the interceptor trajectories.