A Partial Differential Equation Model Describing the Threat to an Aircraft in a One-on-Many Scenario.
Abstract
This research investigates the feasibility of describing the threat potential at a point in a specified air defense zone as a function of position and time while stipulating that the function is a solution to a partial differential equation. The mission, the aircraft, and the hostility of the air defense zone are incorporated into the forcing function, as well as the initial and boundary conditions which are needed to solve the partial differential equation. A constant speed and altitude of the aircraft is assumed. In order to validate the partial differential equation used to generate the threat data a scheme for determining the path of least threat through the threat data is proposed. The calculus of variations, a branch of mathematics concerned with the optimization of an integral, is used to find the curve x(t) and y(t) which minimizes the total threat of the flight path. Preliminary results indicate that it does appear feasible to describe the threat as above but further validation is required.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA178641
Entities
People
- Henry G. Birkdale
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology