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Approximate optimal guidance for the advanced launch systemA real-time guidance scheme for the problem of maximizing the payload into orbit subject to the equations of motion for a rocket over a spherical, non-rotating earth is presented. An approximate optimal launch guidance law is developed based upon an asymptotic expansion of the Hamilton - Jacobi - Bellman or dynamic programming equation. The expansion is performed in terms of a small parameter, which is used to separate the dynamics of the problem into primary and perturbation dynamics. For the zeroth-order problem the small parameter is set to zero and a closed-form solution to the zeroth-order expansion term of Hamilton - Jacobi - Bellman equation is obtained. Higher-order terms of the expansion include the effects of the neglected perturbation dynamics. These higher-order terms are determined from the solution of first-order linear partial differential equations requiring only the evaluation of quadratures. This technique is preferred as a real-time, on-line guidance scheme to alternative numerical iterative optimization schemes because of the unreliable convergence properties of these iterative guidance schemes and because the quadratures needed for the approximate optimal guidance law can be performed rapidly and by parallel processing. Even if the approximate solution is not nearly optimal, when using this technique the zeroth-order solution always provides a path which satisfies the terminal constraints. Results for two-degree-of-freedom simulations are presented for the simplified problem of flight in the equatorial plane and compared to the guidance scheme generated by the shooting method which is an iterative second-order technique.
Document ID
19940020279
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Feeley, T. S.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Speyer, J. L.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1993
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Space Vehicles
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:4568
NASA-CR-4568
Accession Number
94N24752
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 232-01-04-05
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG1-1090
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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