Nonlinear receding horizon control-based real-time guidance, navigation, and control architecture for launch vehicles

This research conducts an investigation of real-time nonlinear controller design for a high-speed launch vehicle through a nonlinear RHC methodology that provides single -shot, real-time solutions. One of the novel approaches in this application is to provide a real-time solution process for launch vehicles that can be run with onboard computer hardware. From the results of the various simulations, it is clear that it is possible to design and implement such a control system. The reaction of the system to initial perturbation was favorable, and trajectory tracking (across a variety of trajectories) was achieved within a relatively short time and then maintained. The computation time was less than the simulation time by a comfortable margin, which confirms that real-time control is possible. The Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis indicated that the system is robust to sensor noise and actuator deviation to a reasonable degree. Future work would involve converting the code into a format suitable for execution on an embedded system and optimizing it as much as possible, as well as enhancing the current system to allow proper trajectory (not just a) tracking and handling of actuator dynamics.