Large-scale stealth trajectory optimization based on hybrid A*-Gauss pseudospectral method

Abstract

For airborne electronic countermeasures, a practical and feasible stealth trajectory with low observability significantly impacts mission success. However, for long-range and large-scale trajectory optimization problems, the significant increase in the state space size will affect the feasibility and optimality of the problem solution. This paper proposes a hybrid trajectory optimization method to address the above issues. First, the A* (A-star) algorithm and cubic B-spline curve fitting method are used to generate the corresponding waypoints in the predetermined grid map under the radar detection threat to satisfy the trajectory stealth effect at the macro level. Then, the optimal control model (OCP) with the shortest flight time is solved between the waypoints to obtain segmented trajectories. Finally, the above state-control variable sequences are further used to solve the optimal control problem of the micro-level stealth trajectory coupling the radar cross section (RCS) by Gauss pseudospectral method (GPM). The numerical simulation results validate the proposed hybrid optimization method.