Closed Loop Stability of Synthetic Waypoint Guidance Algorithm

This paper examines the closed-loop stability characteristics of the Synthetic Waypoint Guidance (SWG) algorithm. Following the development of the underlying guidance laws, an analysis into the effect of guidance parameter variations on aircraft performance was conducted. The dynamics of the synthetic waypoint was integrated with the dynamics of the aircraft to develop an augmented state space model incorporating aircraft and guidance states. A linear stability analysis was performed and showed that guidance parameter variations had a significant effect on the overall stability of the system with the introduction of a new guidance mode. The properties of the guidance mode and its influence on the state response of the aircraft are illustrated by simulation.