Definition of a Landing Strategy for a Model-Scale Reusable Rocket

Nicolas Bourliatoux; Joan M. Riera; Leandro R. Lustosa

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CEAS EuroGNC 2022

Definition of a Landing Strategy for a Model-Scale Reusable Rocket

Nicolas Bourliatoux	Undergraduate Research Assistant, ISAE-SUPAERO ,Université de Toulouse, France.
Joan M. Riera	Undergraduate Research Assistant, ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse, France.
Leandro R. Lustosa	Assistant Professor, ISAE-SUPAERO, Université de Toulouse, France.

Abstract:
Model-scale rockets differ from their real-size counterparts in important ways. For one, the lack of significant thrust throttling limits retro propulsion landing capabilities. This paper studies its feasibility by employing model-scale non-throttleable solid-propellant engines. Our landing strategy comprises an aerodynamic passive descent followed by a thrust vector control touchdown, and thus thrust is modulated not by magnitude but by direction. This strategy imposes additional levels of under-actuation and nonlinearities that cannot be easily tackled with linear approaches. We propose a Nonlinear Model Predictive Controller as a solution and test its performance and robustness in simulation in different scenarios.

Keywords: Model-Scale Rocket; Autonomous Landing; Thrust Vectoring; Nonlinear Model Predictive Control

View PDF CEAS-GNC-2022-020

Nicolas Bourliatoux, Joan M. Riera, Leandro R. Lustosa: Definition of a Landing Strategy for a Model-Scale Reusable Rocket. Proceedings of the 2022 CEAS EuroGNC conference. Berlin, Germany. May 2022. CEAS-GNC-2022-020.

BibTeX entry:

@Incollection{CEAS-GNC-2022-020,

    authors = {Bourliatoux, Nicolas and Riera, Joan M. and Lustosa, Leandro R.},

    title = {Definition of a Landing Strategy for a Model-Scale Reusable Rocket},

    booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2022 {CEAS EuroGNC} conference},

    address = {Berlin, Germany},

    month = may,

    year = {2022},

    note = {CEAS-GNC-2022-020}

}