• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.709-718
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• 2017

This paper proposes the guidance laws for an agile turn of air-to-air missiles during the initial boost phase. Optimal solution for the agile turn is obtained based on the optimal control theory with a simplified missile dynamic model. Angle-of-attack command generating methods for completion of agile turn are then proposed from the optimal solution. Collision triangle condition for non-maneuvering target is reviewed and implemented for update of terminal condition for the agile turn. The performance of the proposed method is compared with an existing homing guidance law and the minimum-time optimal solution through simulations under various initial engagement scenarios. Simulation results verify that transition to homing phase after boost phase with the proposed method is more effective than direct usage of the homing guidance law.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.266-273
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• 2011

This paper deals with missile autopilot design for agile turn phase in air-to-air engagement scenarios. To attain a fast response, angle-of-attack (AOA) is adopted for an autopilot command structure. Since a high operational AOA is generally required during the agile turn phase, dealing with the aerodynamic uncertainties can be a challenge for autopilot design. As a remedy, a new controller design method based on robust nonlinear control methodology such as time delay control is proposed in this paper. Nonlinear observer is also proposed to estimate the AOA in the presence of the model uncertainties. The performance of the proposed controller with variation of the aerodynamic coefficients is investigated through numerical simulations.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 2011

This paper presents the air-to-air missile autopilot design for a $180^{\circ}$ heading reversal maneuver during boost-phase. The missile's dynamics are linearized at a set of operating points for which angle of attack controllers are designed to cover an extended flight envelope. Then, angle of attack controllers are designed for this set of points, utilizing a pole-placement approach. The controllers' gains in the proposed configuration are computed from aerodynamic coefficients and design parameters in order to satisfy designer-chosen criteria. These design parameters are the closed-loop frequency, damping ratio, and time constant; these represent the characteristics of the control system. To cope with highly nonlinear and rapidly time varying dynamics during boost-phase, the global gain-scheduled controller is obtained by interpolating the controllers' gains over variations of the angle of attack, Mach number, and center of gravity. Simulation results show that the proposed autopilot design provides satisfactory performance and possesses good [ed: or "sufficient" or "excellent"] capabilities.