Energy optimized maneuver trajectory generation for unmanned aerial vehicles

Energy of motion for maneuver flight of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based on energy optimization enables the UAVs to gain energy superiority without losing decisive position superiority. Adequate energy superiority can be translated into effective position superiority, facilitating the UAVs in changing into other maneuver from current maneuver at any moment, which is crucial for UAVs to win the aerial combat. This paper examines the maneuver trajectory generation methods for UAVs based on energy optimization, designs appropriate maneuver commands in the UAV flight envelope to achieve optimal energy performance, and uses detailed pull-up turn maneuver trajectory commands as an example. In addition, a comparison is made with the classical maneuver trajectory method. Results show that with the designed method, the time consumption of maneuver flight is shortened by 28.6% to 83.8%, and the energy undulate quantity of the UAV is reduced by 64.7% to 70.1%, thereby realizing energy optimization for UAV maneuver flight. © 2020, Beihang University Aerospace Knowledge Press. All right reserved.