Predictive guidance algorithms for maximal downrange maneuvrability with application to low-lift re-entry

The paper concerns the general problem of a bounded final state control of non-linear dynamic systems with reference to near-optimal predictive guidance for low lift-to-drag ratio re-entry vehicles. More specifically, it addresses deriving guidance strategies capable to provide a maximal downrange maneuvrability for a maximal remaining flight time. Such robust, “guaranteed”, or assured, guidance keeps the remaining range-to-go to be coincident with the center of instant attainability domain. The paper discusses the existing guaranteed guidance strategy, and presents more general approach that provides an on-board planning of the entry trajectory, thus giving future state and control profiles. As a consequence the proposed guidance law is able to satisfy not only specified terminal conditions but also typical inequality constraints such as the maximal load factor and heat load. Computer simulations show that the algorithm can generate the feasible trajectories with equal downrange margins, using simple two-parametric families of control functions.