Trajectory Planning for Terminal Area Energy Management Phase of Reusable Launch Vehicles. Issue 17 (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mu, Lingxia; Yu, Xiang; Zhang, Youmin; Li, Ping; Wang, Xinmin
• Is Part Of: IFAC-PapersOnLine. Volume 49:Issue 17(2016)
• Page Start: 462
• Page End: 467
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: Reusable launch vehicle (RLV) -- Terminal area energy management (TAEM) -- Trajectory planning -- Kernel extraction protocol (KEP) -- Ground-track path; Automatic control -- Periodicals; 629.805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2016.09.079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8963

Abstract

Abstract: A three-dimensional trajectory planning algorithm is proposed for the terminal area energy management (TAEM) phase of an unpowered reusable launch vehicle (RLV). Firstly, a reference dynamic pressure profile which characterizes the longitudinal motion is conceived on the basis of the maximum dive and maximum glide capabilities. Secondly, a reference ground-track path is developed, which is composed of four flight segments determined by the location, the size, and the turning mode of a heading alignment cone. Then, the RLV motion equations modeled by kernel extraction protocol (KEP) are numerically solved via secant iteration method, according to the knowledge of the pre-designed dynamical pressure profile and the ground-track path. Finally, a down-track correction scheme is designed to correct the down-track position along the runway centerline. Numerical simulations are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed trajectory planning algorithm.