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ME4703 Missile Flight and Control

Tactical Missile Flight Dynamics, Guidance and Control. Kinematics and dynamics of motion, forces and moments acting on the missile, coordinate frames and transformations, concepts of stability and control. Key principles of feedback control. Stability and performance specifications, Concept of controllability, PID control. Lateral autopilot design, classical and modern design approaches; agility in maneuvering trajectories. Homing loop design, operational requirements. Principles of missile guidance as a control task; stability of guidance laws. Pursuit guidance equation, constraints, and the associated performance specifications; firing envelope, "no-escape envelope." Proportional navigation guidance law, stability and performance specifications of PN guidance. Metrics of objective comparison of guidance laws and their applicability in specific scenarios of engagement. Additional topics are selected from the following areas to address the general interests of the class: advanced guidance laws, passive sensors, INS guidance, fire control and tracking systems.

Prerequisite

ME3205 and ME2801 or equivalent or consent of instructor.

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

1

Course Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze Missile Flight Dynamics and Control Systems
    • Students will be able to analyze the kinematics and dynamics of missile flight, including forces and moments, stability, and control. They will understand the application of coordinate transformations and feedback control systems in missile dynamics.
  • Design and Evaluate Missile Guidance and Control Systems
    • Students will demonstrate proficiency in designing and evaluating missile guidance systems, including the implementation of lateral autopilot systems and classical and modern control approaches, such as PID control. They will assess performance specifications, agility, and stability.
  • Apply and Compare Missile Guidance Laws
    • Students will be able to apply missile guidance laws, including proportional navigation (PN) guidance, and evaluate their stability and performance in tactical scenarios. They will compare various guidance laws based on operational constraints and mission-specific engagement criteria.