Onboard Trajectory Optimization for System Autonomy on Saturday

Onboard trajectory optimization lies at the heart of true system autonomy, including UAVs, Robots, spacecrafts, launch vehicles, missiles, and so on. Onboard trajectory optimization in real time (optimal guidance) can be generally viewed as a difficult problem. However, it holds great promise for true system autonomy. The complex interplay between autonomy and onboard decision support systems introduces new vulnerabilities that are extremely hard to predict with most existing guidance and control tools. In this tutorial workshop, the basic background behind trajectory optimization and computational guidance will be reviewed first. Next, some recent advances in stabilized continuation techniques for solving two-point boundary value problems with convergence and compute guarantees will be discussed. These concepts further extend for applications to broad classes of trajectory guidance applications for aerospace flight systems including the accommodation of higher-fidelity models through bootstrapping techniques. These technical foundations will be highlighted through illustrative examples for optimal trajectory guidance inside dynamic and uncertain environments. The topics covered will also include an overview of optimal computational guidance with its relevance for challenging aerospace missions.

Lectures:
1.Overview of Trajectory Optimization (Optimal Control)
2.Stabilized Continuation for Onboard Trajectory Optimization
3.Computational Guidance for Aerospace Missions
4.Bootstrapping Techniques for Onboard Trajectory Optimization