CONJUGATE GRADIENT METHODS WITH AN APPLICATION TO V/STOL FLIGHT-PATH OPTIMIZATION.

Abstract

Conjugate gradient methods have recently been applied to some simple optimization problems and have been shown to converge faster than the methods of steepest descent. The present paper considers application of these methods to more complicated problems involving terminal as well as in-flight constraints. A number of methods are suggested to handle these constraints and the numerical difficulties associated with each method are discussed. The problem of flight-path optimization of a V/STOL aircraft was considered and minimum time paths for the climb phase were obtained using the conjugate gradient algorithm. In conclusion, some remarks are made about the relative efficiency of the different optimization schemes presently available for the solution of optimal control problems. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0662686

Entities

People

  • A. E. Bryson Jr.
  • R. K. Mehra

Organizations

  • Harvard University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Algorithms
  • Efficiency
  • Flight
  • Flight Paths
  • Heuristic Methods
  • Mathematics
  • Optimization
  • Short Takeoff Aircraft

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Operations Research

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers