Numerical solutions of differential-algebraic equations and its applications in solving TPPC problems

Abstract

In this paper, we present a numerical method for solving nonlinear differential algebraic equations (DAE's) based on the backward differential formulas (BDF) and the Pade series. Usefulness of the method is then illustrated by a numerical example, which is concerned with the derivation of the optimal guidance law for spacecraft. This kind of problems is called trajectory-prescribed path control (TPPC) in the literature. We reformulate the problem as a Hamiltonian DAE system (usually with a higher index). After establishing the system of spacecraft dynamics, we can derive the optimal guidance law of the system by the proposed numerical method.