The use of solutions to problems of spacecraft trajectory optimization in impulse formulation when solving the problems of optimal control of trajectories of a spacecraft with limited thrust engine: I

In this first part of our paper, it is suggested to use solutions to boundary value problems in the optimization problems (in impulse formulation) for spacecraft trajectories in order to obtain the initial approximation, when boundary value problems of the maximum principle are solved numerically by the shooting method. The technique suggested is applied to the problems of optimal control over motion of the center of mass of a spacecraft controlled by the thrust vector of jet engine with limited thrust in an arbitrary gravitational field in a vacuum. The method is based on a modified (in comparison to the classic scheme) shooting method computation together with the method of continuation along a parameter (maximum reactive acceleration, initial thrust-to-weight ratio, or any other parameter equivalent to them). This technique allows one to obtain the initial approximation with a high precision, and it is applicable to a wide range of optimal control problems solved using the maximum principle, if the impulse formulation makes sense for these problems.     

Optimization of transfer trajectories to the Apophis asteroid for spacecraft with high and low thrust

The problem of optimization of a spacecraft transfer to the Apophis asteroid is investigated. The scheme of transfer under analysis includes a geocentric stage of boosting the spacecraft with high thrust, a heliocentric stage of control by a low thrust engine, and a stage of deceleration with injection to an orbit of the asteroid’s satellite. In doing this, the problem of optimal control is solved for cases of ideal and piecewise-constant low thrust, and the optimal magnitude and direction of spacecraft’s hyperbolic velocity “at infinity” during departure from the Earth are determined. The spacecraft trajectories are found based on a specially developed comprehensive method of optimization. This method combines the method of dynamic programming at the first stage of analysis and the Pontryagin maximum principle at the concluding stage, together with the parameter continuation method. The estimates are obtained for the spacecraft’s final mass and for the payload mass that can be delivered to the asteroid using the Soyuz-Fregat carrier launcher.     

Optimal flights to near-Earth asteroid

The spacecraft flights to the Near-Earth asteroid in order to give an impact influence on the asteroid, correct its orbit and prevent the asteroid’s collision with the Earth are analyzed.In the first part, the impulse flights are analyzed in the Lambert approach. There are determined the optimal trajectories maximizing the asteroid deviation from the Earth.In the second part, the flights with the chemical and electric-jet engines are analyzed. The high thrust is used to launch the spacecraft from the geocentric orbit, and the low thrust is applied for the heliocentric motion. On the base of optimal impulse transfer, the optimal low thrust trajectories are determined using Pontryagin maximum principle.The numerical results are given for the flight to the asteroid Toutatis. Parameters of the spacecraft impact on the asteroid are determined. The asteroid deviation from the Earth caused by the spacecraft influence is presented.     

The Use of Quaternions in the Optimal Control Problems of Motion of the Center of Mass of a Spacecraft in a Newtonian Gravitational Field: I

The problem of optimal control is considered for the motion of the center of mass of a spacecraft in a central Newtonian gravitational field. For solving the problem, two variants of the equations of motion for the spacecraft center of mass are used, written in rotating coordinate systems. Both the variants have a quaternion variable among the phase variables. In the first variant this variable characterizes the orientation of an instantaneous orbit of the spacecraft and (simultaneously) the spacecraft location in this orbit, while in the second variant only the instantaneous orbit orientation is specified by it. The suggested equations are convenient in the respect that they allow the general three-dimensional problem of optimal control by the motion of the spacecraft center of mass to be considered as a composition of two interrelated problems. In the first variant these problems are (1) the problem of control of the shape and size of the spacecraft orbit and (2) the problem of control of the orientation of a spacecraft orbit and the spacecraft location in this orbit. The second variant treats (1) the problem of control of the shape and size of the spacecraft orbit and the orbit location of the spacecraft and (2) the problem of control of the orientation of the spacecraft orbit. The use of quaternion variables makes this consideration most efficient. The problem of optimal control is solved on the basis of the maximum principle. Several first integrals of the systems of equations of the boundary value problems of the maximum principle are found. Transformations are suggested that reduce the dimensions of the systems of differential equations of boundary value problems (without complicating them). Geometrical interpretations are given to the transformations and first integrals. The relation of the vectorial first integral of one of the derived systems of equations (which is an analog of the well-known vectorial first integral of the studied problem of optimal control) with the found quaternion first integral is considered. In this paper, which is the first part of the work, we consider the models of motion of the spacecraft center of mass that employ quaternion variables. The problem of optimal control by the motion of the spacecraft center of mass is investigated on the basis of the first variant of equations of motion. An example of a numerical solution of the problem is given.     

从地球到日-火系平动点轨道的转移

平动点轨道特殊的空间位置及动力学特征,使其在深空探测中具有重要的应用。以日-火系平动点轨道(Lissajous与Halo轨道)任务为目标,结合平动点轨道的不变流形理论,研究了小推力转移问题。首先给出了圆型限制性三体动力学模型下平动点附近不变流形(稳定和不稳定流形)高阶分析解以及相应的计算实例。接着以流形分析解为基础,建立了初始小推力轨道优化模型,并利用改进的协作进化算法求解初始小推力轨道。最后将初始轨道离散,采用多点打靶法将最优控制问题转化为参数优化问题,并用序列二次规划方法(SQP)求解。仿真结果证明轨道设计方法的有效性。     

The Use of Quaternions in the Optimal Control Problems of Motion of the Center of Mass of a Spacecraft in a Newtonian Gravitational Field: II

The problem of a rendezvous in the central Newtonian gravitational field is considered for a controlled spacecraft and an uncontrollable spacecraft moving along an elliptic Keplerian orbit. For solving the problem, two variants of the equations of motion for the spacecraft center of mass are used, written in rotating coordinate systems and using quaternion variables to describe the orientations of these coordinate systems. In the first variant of the equations of motion a quaternion variable characterizes the orientation of an instantaneous orbit of the spacecraft and the spacecraft location in the orbit, while in the second variant it characterizes the orientation of the plane of the spacecraft instantaneous orbit and the location of a generalized pericenter in the orbit. The quaternion variable used in the second variant of the equations of motion is a quaternion osculating element of the spacecraft orbit. The problem of a rendezvous of two spacecraft is formulated as a problem of optimal control by the motion of the center of mass of a controlled spacecraft with a movable right end of the trajectory, and it is solved on the basis of Pontryagin's maximum principle.     

Conditions of the Maximum Principle in the Problem of Optimal Control over an Aggregate of Dynamic Systems and Their Application to Solution of the Problems of Optimal Control of Spacecraft Motion

The necessary first-order conditions of strong local optimality (conditions of maximum principle) are considered for the problems of optimal control over a set of dynamic systems. To derive them a method is suggested based on the Lagrange principle of removing constraints in the problems on a conditional extremum in a functional space. An algorithm of conversion from the problem of optimal control of an aggregate of dynamic systems to a multipoint boundary value problem is suggested for a set of systems of ordinary differential equations with the complete set of conditions necessary for its solution. An example of application of the methods and algorithm proposed is considered: the solution of the problem of constructing the trajectories of a spacecraft flight at a constant altitude above a preset area (or above a preset point) of a planet's surface in a vacuum (for a planet with atmosphere beyond the atmosphere). The spacecraft is launched from a certain circular orbit of a planet's satellite. This orbit is to be determined (optimized). Then the satellite is injected to the desired trajectory segment (or desired point) of a flyby above the planet's surface at a specified altitude. After the flyby the satellite is returned to the initial circular orbit. A method is proposed of correct accounting for constraints imposed on overload (mixed restrictions of inequality type) and on the distance from the planet center: extended (nonpointlike) intermediate (phase) restrictions of the equality type.     

椭圆轨道交会、悬停与绕飞的全状态反馈控制

面向大椭圆轨道航天器交会对接、编队伴飞以及在轨操控等空间应用的需求,对大椭圆轨道上航天器间的相对运动进行了分析与建模,采用幂级数法分别在脉冲推力和常值推力作用两种情况下对系统进行了近似求解。通过对系统解的变换以及对系统状态的重构,给出了大椭圆轨道上的三种交会制导律。脉冲推力作用假设下的脉冲制导类似近圆轨道的Hill制导方法。常值推力作用假设下的全状态反馈制导律则在交会制导、相对悬停和循迹绕飞控制的过程中实现了对相对位置和相对速度的同步控制。通过构造新的系统状态,改进的变系数全状态反馈制导律提高了相对速度的制导精度,降低了相对制导过程中的最大轨控加速度。三种制导律的制导效果通过数学仿真进行了校验和比较,文中给出的方法实现了椭圆轨道上相对交会制导、悬停保持和循迹绕飞控制。     

Planar Problem of an Optimal Transfer of a Low-Thrust Spacecraft from High-Elliptic to Geosynchronous Orbit

Low-thrust flights from high-elliptic orbits are of considerable interest, since they allow one to decrease (compared to high-thrust flights) the propulsion consumption and to reduce the flight duration. At the same time, in comparison with the spiral unwinding flights from low near-circular orbits, this scheme minimizes the harmful effect of the radiation belts. Based on the maximum principle, the problem of optimization is reduced to a two-point boundary value problem, which is solved numerically using the modified Newton method. A method is suggested to obtain the initial approximation for solving the boundary value problem. The method takes advantage of the idea of transition from an approximately optimal trajectory to the optimal one. Two problems, which have different low-thrust models, are considered: one with permanently acting low thrust and the other with the possibility of turning it on/off. In both cases no restrictions are imposed on the thrust direction. A comparison of these problems is made. We investigated (i) what gain in the final mass can be attained when passing from the first to the second problem, (ii) at the cost of what loss in flight duration this can be achieved, and (iii) what changes in the optimal program of control must be done in this case.     

轨道交会、悬停及绕飞控制的解析解方法

面向航天器交会对接、编队伴飞以及在轨操控等空间应用的需求,分别对近圆、椭圆轨道上航天器间的相对运动进行了分析与建模,在常值推力作用假设下进行了相对运动的解析求解。采用模型预测的方法获得航天器相对位置和相对速度的预期偏差。通过广义逆变换构造关于预期偏差的最小范数、最小二乘全状态反馈控制器。提出了一种普遍适用于近圆、椭圆轨道,可以实现轨道交会、相对悬停保持和循迹绕飞,对相对位置和相对速度进行同步控制的高精度、高稳定度相对制导律。仿真结果校验了方法的可行性和有效性。     

The Use of Quaternions in the Optimal Control Problems of Motion of the Center of Mass of a Spacecraft in a Newtonian Gravitational Field: III

The results of numerical solution of the problem of a rendezvous in the central Newtonian gravitational field of a controlled spacecraft with an uncontrollable spacecraft moving along an elliptic Keplerian orbit are presented. Two variants of the equations of motion for the spacecraft center of mass are used, written in rotating coordinate systems and using quaternion variables to describe the orientations of these coordinate systems. The problem of a rendezvous of two spacecraft is formulated [1, 2] as a problem of optimal control by the motion of the center of mass of a controlled spacecraft with a movable right end of the trajectory, and it is solved on the basis of Pontryagin's maximum principle. The paper is a continuation of papers [1, 2], where the problem of a rendezvous of two spacecraft has been considered theoretically using the two above variants of the equations of motion for the center of mass of the controlled spacecraft.     

月球探测器直接软着陆最优轨道设计

研究月球探测器直接软着陆最优轨道的设计问题。首先根据探测器直接软着陆的特点，提出了有限推力最省燃料的最优轨道设计问题；然后利用有限推力月面软着陆的最优推力控制方向的计算公式，研究了边值条件和计算方法；最后通过直接软着陆最优轨道的算例及结果分析，发现开始制动高度越低越省能量；推力方向可变时比不可变时节省能量；推力大小可变相当于采用了多级制动，对安全定点着陆非常有利。     

最少燃料消耗的固定推力共面轨道变轨研究

本文研究了推力固定条件下，从圆轨道进入共面圆轨道一次入轨最节省燃料的推力方向控制策略。这类问题都可归结为两点边值问题，对自由初值的选取作了讨论，并采用打靶法迭代求解。计算了从停泊轨道到同步转移道以及两个过地圆轨道之间的最优转移，获得满意的结果。     

Optimum low-thrust limited power transfers between neighbouring elliptic non-equatorial orbits in a non-central gravity field

A complete first-order analytical solution is developed for the problem of optimum low-thrust limited power transfers between neighbouring elliptic non-equatorial orbits in a non-central gravity field. The optimization problem is formulated as a Mayer problem of optimal control with Cartesian elements as state variables. After applying the Pontryagin maximum principle and determining the optimal thrust acceleration, an intrinsic canonical transformation is performed: the Cartesian elements are changed by suitable orbital elements. Hori's method is applied in determining a first-order analytical solution. Simple analytical solutions are obtained explicitly for long-time transfers.     

考虑地球非球形摄动的固体动能拦截器助推段最优控制方案研究

针对三维空间内的高速飞行目标,提出了一种可用于固体动能拦截器助推段的精确最优控制方法。考虑了地球非球形摄动的影响,建立了有限推力拦截器最优控制问题动力学模型,并用直接配置法与SQP方法进行了数值求解,得到了更加精确的助推段控制方案。算例证明该方法有效。     

组合体与飞船联合轨道维持

通过组合体与飞船联合轨道维持解决了组合体和飞船轨道多特征参数的控制问题。建立了升交点经度、轨道高度和偏心率的控制方程以及基于时间关联特性的升交点赤经和制动点高度耦合控制方程和偏心率保持的双冲量耦合控制方程。结合组合体与飞船的飞行特点,制定了组合体轨道维持实现升交点赤经和轨道偏心率以及飞船轨道维持实现制动点高度的联合控制策略。耦合控制方程使得组合体和飞船轨道维持的控制量分配合理,融合了各次控制之间存在的耦合影响,设计了联合轨道维持策略迭代计算流程。基于神舟九号交会对接飞行过程,通过多组仿真算例校验了组合体与飞船轨道多特征参数的联合优化控制,具有较好的工程应用价值。     

相邻两航天器相对运动近似方程的解析解及比动能方程

在地心引力场中,当目标航天器沿近圆轨道作无动力运动时,与目标航天器相邻的受控航天器相对于目标航天器的运动可以近似地用Hill方程描述。文章给出了受控航天器对目标航天器运动的推力加速度随时间线性变化时Hill方程的解析解。并根据Hill方程导出了受控航天器相对目标航天器运动的比动能方程。还讨论了比动能方程在上述两航天器轨道相遇和轨道交会问题中的应用。     

About one problem of trajectory optimization

The optimization problem for trajectories of spacecraft flight from the Earth to an asteroid is considered in this paper. The flight is realized in the central Newtonian gravitational field of the Sun with a possibility of gravitational maneuvers near planets. Perturbation maneuvers are taken into account using the method of point area of action with a limitation on the flyby altitude. The spacecraft is controlled by changing the value and direction of the engine thrust. The problem is solved taking into account constraints on the launch time, flight duration, and minimum distance to the Sun.     

航天器近距离视觉制导自主机动轨道优化

研究具有视觉导引路径约束的航天器近距离机动轨道优化数值计算问题。首先,给出了带路径约束的椭圆参考轨道航天器近距离轨道机动最优化问题数学模型。利用高斯伪谱法将上述最优化问题转化为非线性规划问题,优化参数为配点上的状态量和控制量。然后,利用MATLAB的SNOPT软件包对非线性规划问题进行求解。最后通过数值仿真验证了方法的有效性和鲁棒性。     

基于间接Radau伪谱法的滑翔段轨迹跟踪制导律

针对高超声速飞行器滑翔段制导问题,提出一种利用间接Radau伪谱法求解最优反馈控制律的全状态标称轨迹跟踪制导律。将标称轨迹跟踪问题转化为线性时变系统状态调节器问题,基于Pontryagin极大值原理进一步将状态调节器问题转化为线性两点边值问题;利用间接Radau伪谱法求解所得的线性两点边值问题,获得最优反馈控制律,并在此基础上设计了易于在线执行的闭环轨迹跟踪制导律。数值仿真结果表明,该制导律对飞行器初始状态量的较大范围偏差和飞行环境参数的有限扰动不敏感,具有良好的鲁棒性,并且能够满足实时性的需求。