Trajectory optimization for cooperative reentry of multiple hypersonic glide vehicle

This paper presents a trajectory optimization method for the cooperative reentry of multiple hypersonic glide vehicles. First, the nominal longitudinal trajectory is planned to satisfy the path and terminal constraints. Second, the trajectory tracking law is used to track the nominal longitudinal trajectory. Meanwhile, a multi-layer bounded corridor for heading error considering the initial lateral state is proposed to control the lateral maneuver, so as to meet the requirement of arrival time and the terminal constraints. Then the trajectory planning with arrival time constraints for a single vehicle is implemented. On this basis, the arrival time distribution and the flight capability are analyzed, and the analysis and the calculation methods for the minimum and the maximum arrival time are given. For the multiple hypersonic glide vehicle cooperative reentry scenario, the cooperative flight time decision-making is completed. Finally, numerical results show that the trajectory optimization method achieves a good performance on the arrival time and the terminal constraints, which indicates that the proposed method can realize the cooperative reentry of multiple hypersonic glide vehicle. The results in dispersed cases indicate that the trajectory optimization method has good calculation accuracy and robustness. © 2020, Beihang University Aerospace Knowledge Press. All right reserved.