Fuel-efficient powered descent guidance on planetary bodies via theory of functional connections 1: Solution of the equations of motion

Enrico Schiassi, Roberto Furfaro, Hunter Johnston, Daniele Mortari

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

Abstract

We present a new approach to solving fuel-efficient powered descent guidance problems using the recently developed Theory of Functional Connections. The algorithm is designed to solve the non-linear Two-Point Boundary Value Problem arising from the application of the Pontryagin minimum principle via Chebyshev polynomials expansion of the boundary conditions-free and iterative least-squares method. The proposed algorithm follows under the category of indirect methods for optimal control problems, and it is demonstrated to be fast and accurate, thus potentially suitable for on-board implementation to generate optimal trajectories in real-time. The focus of this paper is on the solution of the equations of motion for the fuel-efficient powered descent guidance via Theory of Functional Connections. We have succeeded in getting solutions at machine error accuracy with just a few iterations, but still suboptimal as the transversality condition for the free-time problem is not yet met.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2019
EditorsKenneth R. Horneman, Christopher Scott, Brian W. Hansen, Islam I. Hussein
PublisherUnivelt Inc.
Pages275-290
Number of pages16
ISBN (Print)9780877036654
StatePublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes
EventAAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2019 - Portland, United States
Duration: Aug 11 2019Aug 15 2019

Publication series

NameAdvances in the Astronautical Sciences
Volume171
ISSN (Print)0065-3438

Conference

ConferenceAAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference, 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPortland
Period8/11/198/15/19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Space and Planetary Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fuel-efficient powered descent guidance on planetary bodies via theory of functional connections 1: Solution of the equations of motion'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this