Optimal Control of a Gliding Parachute System

Abstract

The optimal control of a gliding parachute system descending at a constant rate is considered for the problem of minimizing the terminal distance from the target at touchdown. Utilizing the parachute bank angle as a control variable, two formulations are presented for the constrained and unconstrained control variable cases, each of which requires the solution to a nonlinear two point boundary value problem. Using the free descent path of the parachute as a nominal solution, a sub-optimal feedback control law is derived which approximates the solution to the unconstrained control variable cases. This control law requires an estimate of the wind vector, as well as measurements of the position and velocity of the parachute relative to the target and air respectively.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0776355

Entities

People

  • Allan E. Pearson

Organizations

  • United States Army Soldier Systems Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Automatic
  • Boundaries
  • Boundary Value Problems
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Simulations
  • Control Systems
  • Control Theory
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Differential Equations
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Homing
  • Measurement
  • Nonlinear Differential Equations
  • Wind
  • Wind Velocity

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Operations Research