Adaptive trajectory generation based on real-time estimated parameters for impaired aircraft landing

Abstract

This paper is motivated by a need to address the challenge of securing a safe landing after suffering from inflight impairment. In this paper, a new adaptive generalised model predictive static programming (G-MPSP) is developed to generate a safe emergency landing trajectory for impaired aircraft. Utilising the computationally efficient G-MPSP framework, the proposed algorithm enables adaptation of model parameters based on the prediction errors to ensure reasonable guidance performance. Based on the estimated parameters, a feasible landing trajectory is then generated by the flexible finite-horizon G-MPSP with input constraints. The integrated approach features explicit closed-form solutions for both parameter estimation and trajectory generation. Its effectiveness is demonstrated by simulations in the presence of parameter uncertainties and noises and by comparison studies with the non-adaptive G-MPSP.