Inventors:
Robert H. Chen - Los Angeles CA, US
Jason L. Speyer - Los Angeles CA, US
International Classification:
G05D 1/00
Abstract:
The implementation of periodic flight for enhancing aircraft's endurance or range is described having at least two components in the periodic flight embodiments. The first component is the trajectory optimization which determines the optimal periodic trajectory (such as altitude, velocity and flight path angle) that produces maximal endurance or range for a given fuel. The second component is the periodic guidance law which mechanizes the optimal periodic trajectory. For certain aircraft, periodic flight improves that aircraft's endurance or range over steady state flight.