Date of Award

3-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

First Advisor

Michael D. Zollars, PhD

Abstract

This work considers a two-actor scenario of a faster, unmanned pursuer with an engagement zone (EZ) and a non-maneuvering mobile evader. The pursuer aims to capture an evader with a circular EZ. The EZ is dynamic and shifts as a function of the evader’s velocity vector. As the evader’s strategy changes, the EZ relative to the pursuer adjusts based on relative heading and speed of the two agents. Using nonlinear optimal control techniques, the optimal trajectory and minimum time to engage the evader are determined for various pursuer initial headings and positions through MATLAB simulation. The results build a control strategy given the scenario, with analytic solution validation. Results lay a foundation to model pursuer-evader capture scenarios with a dynamic EZ, leading to general guidelines for real-time control strategies.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENY-MS-24-M-191

Comments

A 12-month embargo was observed for posting this work on AFIT Scholar.

Distribution Statement A, Approved for Public Release. PA case number on file.

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