Planetary landing site detection and selection using multilevel optimization strategy

Abstract

Reliable landing site detection and selection method is the key to enable a safe planetary landing for both robotic and manned missions. In this paper, a multilevel optimization strategy is newly employed to address this issue. This strategy decomposes the landing site detection and selection problem with constraints into three successive optimization sub-problems, which are then solved as a predetermined sequence in the multilevel structure. In the optimization procedures, an innovation derivatives based hazard detection algorithm is also proposed to solve the first sub-problem. Meanwhile, three performance indexes based on different constraints are defined to locate the optimal landing site. A typical lunar landing site selection scenario is simulated simultaneously using multilevel optimization and existing safety index based optimization, and comparative simulations illustrate the feasibility and superiority of the proposed approach. In addition, robustness assessments of multilevel optimization on initial flight states, guidance laws and landing terrains are also conducted.