Near optimal re-entry guidance law using inverse problem approach

Abstract

An explicit guidance law that maximizes terminal velocity is developed for a re-entry vehicle to a fixed target. Motion is constrained to an optimal, 3D Bezier curve. Acceleration commands are derived by solving an inverse problem related to Bezier parameters. An optimal Bezier curve is determined by solving a real-coded genetic algorithm. For online trajectory generation, optimal trajectory is approximated by fixing the second control point of the Bezier curve. The near optimal trajectory is compared with the genetic solution and with a form of proportional navigation. The near optimal terminal velocity solution compares very well with the genetic solution and is superior to the proportional navigation one. The approach robustness is examined by Monte Carlo simulation.