A Hybrid Optimal Control Approach to Multi-Aircraft Formation Flying

Master thesis (2017)

Authors

G. Stolwijk Aerospace Engineering

Contributors

S. Hartjes (supervisor 1)
H.G. Visser (supervisor 2)
E. van Kampen (coach)
Faculty
Aerospace Engineering
Copyright: © 2017 Joris Stolwijk
Branch and Bound Formation Flight Hybrid Optimal Control Trajectory Optimization
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Published Date

30-11-2017

Language

English

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Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Abstract

A Hybrid Optimal Control (HOC) framework which can be used in conjunction with existing optimal control software is presented. By using hybrid optimal control theory, trajectory optimization problems for systems that are both discrete time and continuous time from a mathematical perspective can be solved. A case study on multi-aircraft formation flying for civil aviation is performed which demonstrates the capabilities of the designed method. Whilst previous research has dealt with either high accuracy trajectories for small formation flying problems or low accuracy modelling of very large formation flying trajectories, in this thesis HOC is used to achieve a high accuracy optimal trajectory for formations of three aircraft and larger. Given the number of flights that are performed every day, the impact of saving fuel just by optimizing their trajectories using formation flying can be significant on a global scale, both environmentally and economically.