Dynamic Optimization of High-Altitude Solar Aircraft Trajectories Under Station-Keeping Constraints

Station Solar Dynamic System

Avoidance Maneuver Planning Incorporating Station-Keeping Constraints and Automatic Relaxation

Space debris is a rising concern for the sustained operation of our satellites. The population in space is continually growing, both gradually with a steady stream of new launches, and in sudden bursts, as evidenced with the recent collision between the Iridium and inactive COSMOS spacecraft. The problem is most severe in densely populated orbit regimes, where satellites face a sustained presen...

Integrated Modelling of an Unmanned High-Altitude Solar-Powered Aircraft for Control Law Design Analysis

Solar-powered high-altitude unmanned platforms are highly optimized and integrated aircraft. In order to account for the complex, multi-physical interactions between their systems, we propose using integrated simulation models throughout the aircraft’s life cycle. Especially small teams with limited ressources should benefit from this approach. In this paper, we describe our approach to an inte...

On Modeling A Dynamic Hybrid System with Constraints: Computing Aircraft Landing Trajectories

We study the problem of computing trajectories of a set of aircraft in their final descent, right before landing. Trajectories must be compatible with aircraft dynamics while keeping distance between aircraft large enough. Our objective is to determine the order in which aircraft land as well as their exact trajectories in order to minimize the maximal landing time. We study a highly simplified...

High-Order Optimal Station Keeping of Geo- stationary Satellites

Nominal space trajectories are usually designed by solving an optimal control problem that maximizes the payload launch-mass ratio while achieving the primary mission goals. However, uncertainties and disturbances affect the spacecraft dynamics in real scenarios. This draws the designer towards the development of optimal feedback control strategies that assure the satisfaction of the mission go...