Applied Trajectory Optimization Certificate- Curriculum 299

Program Manager

Mark Karpenko

WA-306

(831) 656-3231

mkarpenk@nps.edu

Academic Associate

Isaac M. Ross

WA-323

(831) 656-2074

imross@nps.edu

Brief Overview

This certificate program provides students a suite of practical mathematical tools for applying trajectory optimization techniques to solve various problems in engineering design and optimization. The coursework equips students with an ability to model various dynamical systems and formulate a collection of dynamic optimization problems that explore the engineering trade-space. Two of the four-course sequence may be chosen as track electives to meet a student's particular interest in an engineering system. A capstone course provides the mathematical and computational framework that are necessary to apply the tools to address a trajectory optimization problem related to a practical system chosen by the student.

A minimum of 15 credit hours must be completed.

Requirements for Entry

For entry, the student must have a baccalaureate degree with:

1. An APC score of 222
2. Acceptance by the MAE Department

Program Length

Four quarters.

Graduate Certificate Requirements

To earn the academic certificate students must pass all four courses with a C+ (2.3 Quality Point Rating (QPR)) or better in each course and an overall QPR of 3.0 or better. Students earning grades below these standards will need to retake the courses to bring their grades within standards or they will be withdrawn from the program.

Outcomes

This certificate program provides students a suite of practical mathematical tools for applying trajectory optimization techniques to solve various problems in engineering design and optimization. The coursework equips students with an ability to model various dynamical systems and formulate a collection of dynamic optimization problems that explore the engineering trade-space.


Explain the major deficiencies and challenges in current guidance systems in a mathematically justifiable manner.

Understand the scientific underpinnings of trajectory planning and guidance.

Achieve proficiency at the engineering level of the mathematics of constraint satisfaction, their violations and their impacts on practical flight.

Understand first-hand the emerging tools and techniques for verification and validation of prototypical flight codes.

Achieve proficiency in implementation of trajectory planning and guidance algorithms.

Demonstrate a flyable end-to-end algorithm for a platform of their choice.

Required Courses

Quarter 1

Track Electives (choose one)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
AE3818Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Control

3

2

AE4816Dynamics and Control of Space Structures

4

0

AE4818Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing of Military Spacecraft

3

2

AE4820Robotic Multibody Systems

3

2

EC4310Fundamentals of Robotics

3

2

AE4362Astrodynamics

3

0

ME3801Dynamics and Control of Marine and Autonomous Vehicles I

3

2

ME4703Missile Flight and Control

4

1

ME4822Guidance, Navigation, and Control of Marine Systems

3

2

MX3001Basic Engineering Concepts in Modeling and Simulation I

4

0

PH3152Analytical Mechanics

4

0

PH4153Advanced Classical Mechanics I

4

1

AE3820Advanced Mechanics and Orbital Robotics

3

2

AE3815Spacecraft Rotational Mechanics

3

2

Quarter 2

Track Electives (choose one)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
AE3830Aerospace Guidance and Control

3

2

MA4311Calculus of Variations

4

0

ME4800/AE4800Machine Learning for Autonomous Operations

3

2

Quarter 3

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
AE4850Dynamic Optimization

3

2

Quarter 4

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
ME4881Aerospace Trajectory Planning and Guidance

2

4