An approach to three-dimensional aircraft pursuit-evasion

AbstractAn algorithm for obtaining a state-feedback control law for near-optimal aircraft pursuit-evasion in three dimensions is outlined. Key features of the approach are the use of singular-perturbation ideas to decouple the dynamics of each of the two players and the use of a reference frame that decouples the slow subsystem extremals of one player from those of the other. The resulting subproblems are then tractable for closed-loop solution, and the solutions may be combined to give a control law feasible for real-time implementation. Compared with past analyses of pursuit-evasion games, our dynamic model is higher order and more realistic; therefore, our results should be of practical value for aircraft control. And because we use fewer time-scales than were used in past analyses of flight dynamic problems by singular-perturbation methods, our algorithm should be more accurate