Integrated Guidance, Control, and Estimation for Hit-To-Kill Interceptors

Barron Associates, Inc. (BAI) proposes an aggressive Phase I effort to develop novel adaptive, integrated guidance, control, and estimation algorithms for ballistic-missile interceptors with stringent hit-to-kill requirements. The approach combines recentadvances in nonlinear control (backstepping) and estimation methods, and leverages on-line neural network technology for rapid adaptation and robustness to parametric uncertainty. Integration is accomplished using (1) a backstepping formulation to provideseamless integration and construction of guidance and control commands and (2) a unified Lyapunov analysis to derive update rules for the guidance, control, and estimation loops that guarantee the stability of the overall, integrated, design. In Phase I,medium-fidelity simulations will demonstrate that the proposed integrated design method provides improved hit-to-kill performance against maneuvering ballistic missiles. Furthermore, it is expected that the method will enable shorter design times and moreefficient designs by leveraging the on-line adaptation to eliminate a need for an iterative integration process. In Phase II, BAI will explore alternative integrated design methods, and perform a comprehensive performance analysis of the selected design.The main benefits of this work are development of an integrated guidance, control, and estimation system for (1) improved hit-to-kill interception performance for ballistic missile defense, and (2) improved design turn-around time. Phase II and IIIefforts will further develop and demonstrate the components of the integrated system, culminating in hardware-in-the-loop demonstrations and Phase III flight tests. Commercialization will consist of (a) providing expertise and consulting to industry inthe area of integrated missile guidance, control and estimate, (b) developing software toolkits for an integrated guidance/control/estimation design method that benefits the MDA and other aerospace programs, and (c) applying the technology to other areas,including precision industrial controls.