Author:
Joseph Z. Ben-Asher
Affiliation:
Technion, Israel
Keyword(s):
Optimal Control, Green’s Function, Gradient Methods, Rockets Trajectories, Function Space.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Engineering Applications
;
Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics
;
Intelligent Control Systems and Optimization
;
Optimization Algorithms
;
Robotics and Automation
;
Signal Processing, Sensors, Systems Modeling and Control
Abstract:
The gradient method in function space is revisited and applied to the problem of optimizing the trajectories
of aerodynamically maneuvering rockets. The optimization objective may be the maximal range or the
minimal control effort for a given range. The method is shown to provide an implementable and fast
algorithm for a good approximation to the optimal solution. It does not require any non-linear programming
solver, and can be straightforwardly programmed in a flight computer. The method can also be used to
provide an initial guess for more precise techniques, thus accelerating the computational process.