Efficiently Guiding
a Missile
When launched, missiles know where
to go due to sophisticated guidance
systems. With new research from the
University of Central Florida (UCF), a
traditional guidance system may soon
be replaced by a different approach
allowing for a more eficient light
pattern.
Most current guidance and control
systems use a linear design, meaning a
missile can go from one point to another,
but it cannot account for changes
during light without redesigning the light
algorithm.
Another more modern option for
controlling a missile is to use a nonlinear
design. Systems that use nonlinear
design allow the vehicle to be selfdirected and less susceptible to
external factors, such as wind. While
this technology can be used to control
almost any airborne device, including
drones and satellites, one of the main
applications has been the guidance of
missiles.
Coleman Aerospace, an Orlandobased company that supplies systems
engineering to government agencies
and contractors, is working to develop
a nonlinear control model that will
reduce the reaction time and cost
of launching missiles. Ricardo Elias,
Coleman Aerospace VP of engineering,
enlisted the help of a research team at
UCF to assist with the project through The
Corridor’s Matching Grants Research
Program. The UCF team, led by Dr.
Zhihua Qu, professor and chair of UCF’s
Electrical and Computer Engineering
department, hopes their research will
allow companies to increase eficiency and develop programs
at a much faster rate.
Four Ph.D. students working alongside Qu created a model of the
missile motion according to speciications provided by Coleman
Aerospace, then devised an algorithm that allows the navigation
and control of the missile to be completely self-directed.
Understanding second chances don’t exist for a missile launch,
the new system helps ensure a more successful completed
mission.
According to Dr. Qu, nonlinear systems have been researched
for 20-30 years, but are still not widely used in the industry.
“It’s a generation thing,” said Qu. “When the aerospace
control engineers graduated back in the `60s, `70s and
even `80s, they learned mostly about linear systems and
classic methods, and now they are the ones in managerial
positions. For them to incorporate a new technology may
be a bit challenging at times if they don’t understand the
technology themselves.”
Innovation in the industry is
simply a matter of time.
Meanwhile, Qu sees this
project as an opportunity
to demonstrate how useful
and cost effective nonlinear
systems can be.
“Without The Corridor funding, we wouldn’t have money to
investigate new methodology,” he said.
And furthering development on new technology to be
introduced to the market is what the Matching Grants Research
Program is all about.
florida.HIGH.TECH 2016
23