Computational Methods in Optimal Control Problems

Item

Title
Computational Methods in Optimal Control Problems
Date
1965
Index Abstract
Coming Soon
Photo Quality
Not Needed
Report Number
AFFDL TR 65-50
Creator
Payne, James A.
Corporate Author
University of California Department of Engineering
Laboratory
Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory
Extent
134
Identifier
AD0622081
Access Rights
Notice(s)
Distribution Classification
1
Contract
AF 33(615)-1794
DoD Project
8225
DoD Task
822501
DTIC Record Exists
No
Distribution Change Authority Correspondence
None
Abstract
This report considers the application of optimization techniques to the development of methods for the control of engineering systems. The systems considered are those physical processes which are subject to independent control forces and in which the dynamics of the process are of central importance. It is assumed that the process can be described by a system of ordinary nonlinear differential equations. The optimization, with respect to a general criterion function, of such systems is considered. The conditions and equations which specify the optimal system behavior are derived by means of the Maximum Principle. System trajectories which satisfy the optimal conditions, i.e., optimal trajectories, can only be obtained by numerical computation. Various approaches to this computational problem are reviewed and their primary limitations are discussed. In order to provide a realistic evaluation of certain computational methods, the optimization of a particular engineering system is considered in detail. This system is a variable lift aerodynamic vehicle during the atmospheric reentry phase. A mathematical model for this system is developed and the optimization of this model is considered. The criterion function is a linear combination of the heating and acceleration effects which are experienced by the vehicle during the reentry phase.
Report Availability
Full text available
Date Issued
1965-08
Provenance
AFRL/VACA
Type
report
Format
1 online resource
Media
AFFDLTR65-050.pdf