Responsive Space Launch with the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System

For decades the space domain has been used for military purposes. When enemy forces establish counter-space capabilities, this could become a weakness. Responsive Space is a concept that focuses on replenishing lost capabilities and/or granting additional capabilities from space assets quickly. The continuous miniaturization of technologies has...

Submerged Supersonic Air Intakes: An experimental investigation and inviscid study into their preformance

Since ramjet propulsion eliminates the need for oxidizers, it provides an alternative to classic rocket engines for missiles and projectiles. However, to capture free-stream air, ramjet engines require large supersonic air intakes, which can be an operational nuisance. A possible alternative is to make the supersonic intakes flush with the...

Optimizing Air-to-Air Missile Guidance using Reinforcement Learning

To increase performance of air-to-air missile guidance, a novel guidance law is developed using reinforcement learning methods. This guidance law is based on behavior obtained from optimal control methods and subsequently aims to approximate its performance. The study compares the developed guidance law to a traditional guidance law and optimal...

Guidance Algorithm for an Air-to-Air Boost Phase Interceptor

Current Ballistic Missile (BM) defence systems intercept an incoming threat in its terminal phase, and to some extend during its coast phase. During the boost phase of a BM, the initial velocity of the BM is low and the hot exhaust plume is easy to spot for infrared sensors, which provides a good opportunity for interception. To do so, the...

Survey of modern control and observation theory for disturbed, target following aerospace systems. Part one: Basic theory

The document contains a general theory towards the observation and optimal control of disturbed, target following aerospace systems. Disturbed, target following aerospace systems eire defined as aerospace systems that are designed to track a moving target system, while they are subjected to external, time-varying disturbances. The first five...