A Comparison of Partially and Fully Integrated Guidance and Flight Control Optimized with Reinforcement Meta-Learning

Brian Gaudet, Roberto Furfaro

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

We use reinforcement meta-learning to optimize and evaluate two integrated guidance and flight control systems, the first being fully integrated and the second being partially integrated. The fully integrated system maps navigation system outputs directly to commanded control surface deflections. In contrast, in the partially integrated system a guidance system maps navigation system outputs to a commanded acceleration, with the flight control system mapping this acceleration to commanded deflections. The latter approach is integrated in the sense that the flight control system consists of a single control loop, and is optimized for a particular guidance system. We optimize and evaluate the two approaches in an environment modeling a point defense interceptor defending against a hypersonic threat. We find that both systems adapt to a large flight envelope and off-nominal flight conditions that include perturbation of aerodynamic coefficient parameters and flexible body dynamics. Similarly, both systems are robust to the parasitic attitude loop induced by radome refraction and imperfect seeker stabilization. We then repeat the experiment by evaluating the two approaches in an air-to-air missile environment. Although our original hypothesis was that the fully integrated system would provide the highest performance, in both environments we found that the converse was true.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, 2023
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
ISBN (Print)9781624106996
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes
EventAIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, 2023 - Orlando, United States
Duration: Jan 23 2023Jan 27 2023

Publication series

NameAIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, 2023

Conference

ConferenceAIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period1/23/231/27/23

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering

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