Terminal Guidance of Autonomous Parafoils in High Wind-To-Airspeed Ratios
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Authors
Subjects
optimal control
parafoils
predictive control
trajectory optimization
parafoils
predictive control
trajectory optimization
Advisors
Date of Issue
2010-07
Date
Publisher
SAGE
Language
Abstract
Autonomous precision placement of parafoils is challenging because of their limited control authority and
sensitivity to winds. In particular, when wind speed is near the airspeed guidance is further complicated by
the parafoils inability to penetrate the wind. This article specifically addresses the terminal phase and
develops an approach for generating optimal trajectories in real-time based on the inverse dynamics in the
virtual domain. The method results in efficient solution of a two-point boundary-value problem using only
a single optimization parameter allowing the trajectory to be generated at a high rate, mitigating effects of
the unknown winds. It is shown through simulation and experimental results that the proposed algorithm
works well even in strong winds and is robust to sensor errors and wind uncertainty.
Type
Report
Description
The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/09544100JAERO749
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical & Astronautical Engineering
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2011 225: 336
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.