An Application of an Analog Computer to Solve the Two-Point Boundary-Value Problem for a Fourth Order Optimal Control Problem

摘要

The application of Pontryagin's Maximum Principle to trajectory optimization problems results in a two-point boundary-value problem. An analog computer is used in conjunction with a human operator who has a display of the phase planes of the admissible trajectories. The human operator, having a general knowledge of the behavior of the system, adjusts control law parameters until the boundary conditions of the system are satisfied. This technique was applied to a time-optimal rendezvous with bounds on rocket thrust and fuel available and demonstrated that accurate analog computer solutions are possible. (Author)