Analysis of control programs and flight paths of a hypersonic vehicle in climb

Abstract

Control programs and flight paths of a hypersonic vehicle in climb are analyzed. Two approaches to solving the task of determining the control programs and flight paths are identified: the traditional approach and the optimization one. The traditional approach implies specifying a typical mission profile of a hypersonic vehicle. In order to maximize the specific impulse (optimize the performance of the propulsion system) the vehicle moves along the line of peak dynamic pressing. In the case of the optimization approach the minimum fuel problem is stated and solved using the method of Pontryagins maximum principle. It concerns the mass of fuel consumed in hypersonic acceleration. Optimal control programs and optimal flight paths are determined. The results of modeling the motion of a hypersonic vehicle with angle-of-attack schedules corresponding to the traditional and optimization approaches are presented and discussed. It is established that less fuel is consumed in the case of optimal control, which is accounted for by more efficient use of the hypersonic vehicle aerodynamic performance due to direct control of the angle of attack.

Keywords

• hypersonic vehicle
• climb
• acceleration
• angle-of-attack schedule
• typical mission profile
• optimal control
• fuel mass minimum
• maximum principle method