Turn-Key Approach to Optimal Control via Differential Inclusion

Recently, a new method for trajectory optimization was introduced based on the concepts of differential inclusion and attainable sets. This approach eliminates the control from the problem formulation, and exhibits robust convergence even for singular control problems. It thus shows great potential for application to both short-term mission planning as well as onboard flight computer implementation. However, extensive preprocessing is required to reformulate the problem in the desired differential inclusion format, and a significant amount of storage is necessary to obtain high precision solutions. The objective of this proposal is to alleviate or eliminate these limitations in order to utilize the differential inclusion technique in a turn-key manner to solve complex optimization problems for advanced space transportation systems. In particular, three innovative approaches shall be investigated: