Glide Trajectory Optimization for Aerospace Vehicles

摘要

A computer implemented method is provided for in-flight trajectory steering a vehicle by an optimal path to either a preplanned or in-flight commanded destination. The method includes incorporating realistic environmental physical constants; setting initial angle of attack (AoA) and initial AoA rate; incrementing flight AoA; measuring operation parameters; establishing a flight trajectory; calculating an optimal trajectory; comparing flight trajectories; and commanding flight control. The plurality of physical constants include for gravity and atmospheric conditions, the latter typically provided in tabular form, the flight AoA increments from the initial AoA and any prior increments. The plurality of operation parameters of the vehicle includes pressure, velocity and flight path angle. The flight trajectory denotes the path of the vehicle to its destination based on the operation parameters using the physical constants. The optimal trajectory is based on with altitude (based on physical constants) and velocity (based on measured operation parameters) of the vehicle. The flight trajectory is compared to the optimal trajectory as a steering correction by altering the flight AoA. The vehicle's flight control involves executing the steering correction at the flight AoA.