Manual Optimal Guidance Techniques

Abstract

This paper presents two manual optimal guidance schemes, the predictive model guidance scheme and the nominal guidance scheme, developed during a study to minimize the computational and display requirements for human control of space vehicles. The study also provides information on the interrelationships of the computational and display requirements with pilot task loading. The pilot's role and work load in the guidance scheme, the general nature of the required displays and controls, the role and size of the on-board computation requirements, and the degree of optimality are discussed for each manual scheme. The two manual guidance schemes were developed by incorporating predictive—type displays and optimal control theory. Results are presented on the application of both schemes to the boost guidance phase of an advanced aerospace vehicle, the Reusable Orbital Transport. Various display formats are considered for the manual boost guidance phase and estimates are given on hardware requirements for implementation of these formats. Results from operator work load measurement and display evaluation are given. The boost phase computational requirements for both manual guidance schemes are presented and compared with present-day automatic system requirements.