Related papers: Why do launch trajectories end downwards
We consider the problem of controlling a vehicle to arrive at a fixed destination while minimizing a combination of energy consumption and travel time. Our model includes vehicle speed and accelaration limits, aerodynamic drag, rolling…
In this paper, Particle Swarm Optimization with energy-to-fuel continuation is proposed for initializing the co-state variables for low-thrust minimum-fuel trajectory optimization problems in the circular restricted three-body problem.…
This paper considers two different problems in trajectory tracking control for linear systems. First, if the control is not unique which is most input energy efficient. Second, if exact tracking is infeasible which control performs most…
This paper presents the preliminary design of the descent and landing trajectory of the ESA Argonaut lunar lander. The mission scenario and driving system constraints are presented and accounted for in the design of a fuel-optimal…
Modeling has been created for a Space-to-Surface system defined for an optimal trajectory for targeting in terminal phase. The modeling includes models for simulation atmosphere, speed of sound, aerodynamic flight and navigation by an…
Both the backpropagation algorithm in machine learning and the maximum principle in optimal control theory are posed as a two-point boundary problem, resulting in a "forward-backward" lock. We derive a reformulation of the maximum principle…
This paper addresses the problem of trajectory optimization for an unmanned surface vehicle while considering direction-dependent ocean currents and flexible refueling constraints. This work is motivated by the rising interest in developing…
As the number of uncontrollable objects in low earth orbit is rising, the thread of collisions and thus the breakdown of working satellites becomes worth analyzing. Consequently, projects on removing objects from the important orbits are…
This work develops a unified optimal control framework for a Quadrotor Biplane tailsitter UAV capable of operating seamlessly across hover, transition, and cruise flight regimes. Although the tailsitter configuration enables mechanically…
Designing optimal trajectories for multi-flyby asteroid missions is scientifically critical but technically challenging due to nonlinear dynamics, intermediate constraints, and numerous local optima. This paper establishes a method that…
The specific objective of this paper is to develop a tool that calculates the optimal trajectory of the follower aircraft as it completes a formation rejoin, and then maintains the formation position, defined as a ring of points, until a…
To fulfill the vision for large-scale urban air mobility, air-taxi concepts must be carefully designed and optimized for their intended mission. Proposed air-taxi missions contain dynamic segments that are dominated by nonlinear dynamics.…
Most of the optimal guidance problems can be formulated as nonconvex optimization problems, which can be solved indirectly by relaxation, convexification, or linearization. Although these methods are guaranteed to converge to the global…
Application of traditional indirect optimization methods to optimal control problems (OCPs) with control and state path constraints is not a straightforward task. However, recent advances in regularization techniques and numerical…
Approximate dynamic programming has been investigated and used as a method to approximately solve optimal regulation problems. However, the extension of this technique to optimal tracking problems for continuous time nonlinear systems has…
In this paper, we introduce a trajectory planning problem for a marsupial robotics system consisting of a ground robot, a drone, and a taut tether of bounded length connecting the two robots. This problem can be framed within the context of…
We experimentally and numerically study the dependence of different navigation strategies regarding the effectivity of an active particle to reach a predefined target area. As the only control parameter, we vary the particle's propulsion…
Low-thrust trajectories play a crucial role in optimizing scientific output and cost efficiency in asteroid belt missions. Unlike high-thrust transfers, low-thrust trajectories require solving complex optimal control problems. This…
A computational approach is developed for the design of continuous low thrust transfers in the planar circular restricted three-body problem. The transfer design method of invariant manifolds is extended with the addition of continuous low…
A convex formulation is proposed for optimal energy management in aircraft with hybrid propulsion systems consisting of gas turbine and electric motor components. By combining a point-mass aircraft dynamical model with models of electrical…