Online trajectory planning for UCAV performing ground attacks based on threat modeling

Abstract

The paper studies how to plan the trajectories of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that releases its airborne weapons and presents an online trajectory planning method based on threat modeling. Firstly, it analyzes the aerodynamic characteristics, engine thrust and fuel characteristics of the UCAV and builds its dynamic and kinematic models. Secondly, the trajectory planning model of the UCAV is formulated with flight performance constraints and battlefield threat constraints considered. To improve the accuracy of ground attacks, the envelope of a guided bomb's acceptable region of weapon release is studied, and the release center and posture of the guided bomb work as terminal planning conditions. Thirdly, an online trajectory planning method is proposed. With the help of threat modeling, the complicated trajectory planning problem is transformed into a simplified situation classification. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate that the online planning method proposed in the paper can provide feasible trajectories for a UCAV to succeed in releasing its airborne weapons.

Keywords

• unmanned combat aerial vehicle
• online trajectory planning
• airborne weapon release
• threat modeling