Low-Observable Nonlinear Trajectory Generation for Unmanned Air Vehicles

Abstract

This paper explores low observablity flight path planning of unmanned air vehicles in the presence of radar detection systems. The probability of detection model of an aircraft near an enemy radar depends on aircraft attitude, range, and configuration. A detection model is coupled with a simplified aircraft dynamics model. The Nonlinear Trajectory Generation (NTG) software package developed at Caltech is used. NTG algorithm is a gradient descent optimization method that combines three technologies: B-splines, output space collocation and nonlinear optimization tools. Implementations are formulated with temporal constraints that allow periods of high observablity interspersed with periods of low observablity. Illustrative examples of optimized routes for low observablity are presented.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA424225

Entities

People

  • J. Wohletz
  • K. Misovec
  • Ryan Murray
  • T. Inanc

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Algorithms
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Detection
  • Dynamics
  • Flight Paths
  • Motion Planning
  • Optimization
  • Probability
  • Trajectories
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers