Proportional Navigation Guidance System

Notes

Contents

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 Types of Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guidance Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Literature Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 6 6 8 8 12 14 17 17

2 Velocity Pursuit Method of Guidance 2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 Proportional Navigation Method of Guidance 3.1 3.2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Notes on Guidance Systems[1] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2.1 3.3 3.4 Proportional Navigation Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Working of Proportional Navigation Guidance System[1] . . . . . . . . . General Working of Guidance System[2] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 Integrated Guidance and Control 4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

4.2 4.3 4.4

Overview [3] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Functions of Various IGC subsystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Traditional Guidance and Control Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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References

Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Overview

Two important denitions are:(a) Guidance. Guidance can be dened as the strategy for how to steer the missile to intercept. (b) Control. Control can be dened as the tactics of using the missile actuators to implement the guidance strategy.

1.1.1

Types of Guidance

Guidance can be divided into two types namely:(a) Target Related Guidance. In this guidance strategy the target tracking data are provided in real time from a sensor which can be on-board the missile or o it. (b) Non-Target Related Guidance. In this strategy the missile navigates to some predetermined point which can be the target or the point where target related guidance starts. It must be noted that the performance of integrated GPS/INS navigational systems oer precision in the order of meters. Weapons using non-target related guidance using 1

the integration of sensor-to-shooter improves and near real time targeting data can be obtained from sensors not xed in the missile system, can hence compete with traditional homing missiles and the distinction between the two types becomes less clear..

1.1.2

Guidance Laws

The most fundamental, and also most commonly used, guidance laws are:(a) Velocity Pursuit (b) Proportional Navigation (c) Command-to-Line-of-Sight (d) Beam Riding All of these guidance laws date back to the very rst guided missiles developed in the 1940s and 1950s. The reasons that they have been so successful are mainly that they are simple to implement and that they give robust performance.

1.1.3

Literature Survey

The presentation in this paper is mainly based on textbooks on missile guidance e.g., Blakelock [1], Garnell[2],and Zarchan[4].

Chapter 2 Velocity Pursuit Method of Guidance

2.1 Introduction

The conceptual idea behind velocity pursuit guidance is that the missile should always head for the targets current position. Thus this strategy requires that the missiles velocity is greater than the targets, in order to result in an intercept. The required information for velocity pursuit is limited to the bearing to the target, which can be obtained from a simple seeker, and the direction of the missiles velocity. Velocity pursuit is usually implemented in laser guided bombs, where a simple seeker is mounted on a vane, which automatically aligns with the missiles velocity vector relative to the wind. The mission of the guidance and control system thus becomes to steer the bomb such that the target is centred in the seeker.

Using a target xed polar coordinate system, see gure 1, the equations describing the kinematics of velocity pursuit are

dVM = dR + dVT dR = dVM dVT r = vM (vT cos) r = vT cos vM 4 (2.1)

and dV = r = vT sin r. Alternately, the rate at which the distance between the target and the missile is reducing to zero is given by the projection of instantaneous velocity vector of target on the line joining the missile and target i.e.,vT cos minus the instantaneous velocity of missile. This gives eqn.3.2. Similarly, the rate at which the angle between the line joining missile and target and the target velocity vector reduces to zero is given by the perpendicular distance between missile and target velocity vector given by vT sin divided by the instantaneous distance between target and missile (r). This gives eqn.3.3. Integration gives r = r0
(V (1 + cos0 ) VT (sin) VM 1) T
VM

(2.2)

(sin0 ) VT

VM

(1 + cos) VT

VM

(2.3)

where index 0 indicates the zero or initial condition. Thus it can be noted from eqn.2.3 that r becomes zero for the value of = 0 i.e., when the intercept is tail chase, and in case of head-on ( = ) the condition is unstable (1/0) condition.The velocity pursuit guidance law results in high demanded lateral acceleration, in most cases innite at the nal phase of the intercept. As the missile cannot perform innite acceleration, the result is a nite miss distance. Velocity pursuit is thus sensitive to target velocity and also to disturbances such as wind. The velocity pursuit guidance law is not suitable for meter precision.

Chapter 3 Proportional Navigation Method of Guidance

3.1 Introduction

The conceptual idea behind proportional navigation is that the missile should keep a constant bearing to the target at all time.The guidance law that is used to implement this concept is given by M = c. (3.1)

where M is the direction of the missiles velocity vector, is the bearing of missile to target, and c is a constant. Both of the angles M and are measured relative to some xed reference.

Figure 3.1: Proportional navigation, kinematics and denition of angles.

With angles as dened in gure 4 and using polar coordinates the following kinematic equations in the 2D case can be obtained:dVM = dR + dVT dR = dVM dVT r = vM cos( ) (vT cos) r = vT cos vM cos( ) (3.2)

dV = r = vM sin( ) vT sin r.

(3.3)

3.2

Notes on Guidance Systems[1]

The lateral autopilot in a missile receives an acceleration command as its input and the aim of the autopilot is to track this commanded acceleration. The acceleration command is provided by an appropriate guidance system. Two such guidance systems namely proportional navigation and line-of-sight command guidance systems are discussed. (a) In proportional navigation, the missile is guided either by the reected radio frequency (RF) or the radiant infrared (IR) energy from the target. In case of active homing missiles, the illuminating radar is in the missile itself whereas in case of semiactive homing missiles, a separate illuminating radar which is the re control radar of the launch aircraft in case of air-to-air missiles and a ground radar at the launch site in case of surface-to-air missiles, is used. (b) In case of command guidance which is generally used in case of surface-to-air missiles, two tracking radars, one to track the target and the other to track the missile are located at the launch site.

3.2.1

Proportional Navigation Guidance

In proportional navigation guidance method, the missile turns at a rate proportional to the angular velocity of the line-of-sight (LOS). The LOS is dened as an imaginary line from the missile to the target. The ratio of the missile turning rate to the angular velocity of the LOS is called the proportional navigation constant denoted by N . The value of N is usually greater than one and usually ranges from 2 to 6. This means that the missile will always be turning at a rate faster than the LOS rate and thus build up a lead angle with respect to the LOS. Thus for a constant velocity missile and target (target not maneuvering), anuglar velocity of line of sight is zero and the lead angle generated can put the missile on a collisionm course with the target. 8

(a) If N =1, then the missile is turning at the same rate as the LOS and thus homing on to the target. (b) If N < 1, the missile will be turning slower than the LOS thus continuously falling behind the target and making an intercept impossible. The seeker, in case of proportional navigation guidance system, while tracking the target establishes the direction of the LOS. Thus the output of the seeker is the angular velocity of the LOS with respect to inertial space as measured by rate gyros mounted on the seeker.

The guidance geometry for proportional navigation guidance is as shown in g.3.2.1 where initially the turning angle of the target T is considered to be zero while that of the missile is given by M . The angle of LOS is denoted by . The target and missile velocities are denoted by VT and VM .

Determination of Angular Velocity The magnitude of the angular velocity of the LOS which generates the angular velocity of the seeker SK is determined by the components of missile and target velocity perpendicular to the LOS from the g.3.2.1. (a) The component of missile velocity perpendicular to the LOS is given by vM sin( M ) This generates a positive LOS rotation. 9

(b) The component of target velocity perpendicular to the LOS is given by vT sin( T ) This generates a negative LOS rotation. (c) Thus the magnitude of the angular velocity is the dierence between the components of missile and target velocities perpendicular to the LOS divided by the distance between the target and missile which is denoted by r. LOS = vM sin( M ) vT sin( T ) r (3.4)

If the perpendicular components of missile and target are equal and unchanging, LOS will be zero and there will be no rotation of the LOS. Thus the missile will be on a collision course with the target. (d) If the angles are assumed to be small, then eqn.3.4 can be linearised as follows:LOS = vM ( M ) vT ( T ) r (3.5)

Since LOS is the angular rate or , taking Laplace transform of eqn.LOSratelin gives vM (s)((s) M (s)) vT (s)((s) T (s)) r(s) vM (s)M (s) vT (s)((s) T (s)) vM (s) (s )(s) + = r(s) r(s) r(s) vT (s)((s) T (s))/r(s) vM (s)M (s)/r(s) (s) = (3.6) M (s) M (s) (s vr(s) ) (s vr(s) ) s(s) = (e) From eqn.3.6, it can be seen that when N < 1, the geometry of proportional navigation introduces a pole in the right half s plane. As N is increased from zero, this pole slowly moves to the left and crosses the imaginary axis at N = 1.

Determination of LOS rate (r) The magnitude of the linear rate of the LOS is determined by the components of missile and target velocity parallel to the LOS from the g.3.2.1. 10

(a) The component of missile velocity parallel to the LOS is given by vM cos( M ) This generates a positive LOS rate. (b) The component of target velocity parallel to the LOS is given by vT cos( T ) This generates a negative LOS rate. (c) Thus the linear rate of change of LOS (r) is given by r = vM cos( M ) vT cos( T ) (3.7)

Assumptions (a) Missile and target are point masses. (b) Missile and target velocities are constant. (c) Autopilot and seeker loop dynamics are fast enough to be neglected when compared to overall guidance loop behavior. (d) Upper bound of target accleleration exists.

Relations for Target and Missile Accelerations Using the above assumptions, the angular rates of target and missile can be related to their respective accelerations by the following equations:T = M = aT vT aM vM (3.8) (3.9)

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3.3

Working of Proportional Navigation Guidance System[1]

A simple block diagram of a proportional navigational guidance system is shown in g.3.3.

12

T R
(rad) VT /R sVM /R

R |T +

R SEEKER
(rad)

SK

GUIDANCE COMPUTER

(rad/sec)

az(comm) az az(comm) (g)

az (g)

9.81 VM s

(rad)

M |R
VM /R sVM /R

13

The working is explained below:(a) R |T is the LOS direction due to the target motion. This is given as one of the inputs to the seeker through the summer block. (b) The output of the seeker is SK which is the input to the guidance computer which generates the missile acceleration command. It is assumed that the acceleration command is proportional to the missile velocity times the angular velocity of the LOS. (c) The missile acceleration in gs times 9.81/VM is equal to the missile pitch rate. Integration of this value gives M . (d) The output of the transfer function in the feedback path is the rotation of the LOS due to missile R |M which is now given as the other input of the summer but with opposite (negative) sign.

3.4

General Working of Guidance System[2]

A simplied closed-loop block diagram for a vertical or horizontal plane guidance loop without an autopilot is as shown below: -

(a) The target tracker determines the target direction t . 14

(b) Let the guidance receiver gain be k1 volts/rad (misalignment). The guidance signals are then invariably phase advanced to ensure closed loop stability. (c) In order to maintain constant sensitivity to missile linear displacement from the LOS, the signals are multiplied by the measured or assumed missile range Rm before being passed to the missile servos. This means that the eective d.c. gain of the guidance error detector is k1 volts/m. (d) If the missile servo gain is k2 rad/volt and the control surfaces and airframe produce a steady state lateral acceleration of k3 m/s2 /rad then the guidance loop has a steady state open loop gain of k1 k2 k3 m/s2 /m or k1 k2 k3 s2 . (e) The loop is closed by two inherent integrations from lateral acceleration to lateral position. Since the error angle is always very small, one can say that the change in angle is this lateral displacement divided by the instantaneous missile range Rm . (f) The guidance loop has a gain which is normally kept constant and consists of the product of the error detector gain, the servo gain and the aerodynamic gain. Consider now the possible variation in the value of aerodynamic gain k3 due to change in static margin. The c.g. can change due to propellant consumption and manufacturing tolerances while changes in c.p. can be due to changes in incidence, missile speed and manufacturing tolerances. The value of k3 can change by a factor of 5 to 1 for changes in static margin (say 2 cm to 10 cm in a 2 m long missile). If, in addition, there can be
1 large variations in the dynamic pressure 2 u2 due to changes in height and speed, then

the overall variation in aerodynamic gain could easily exceed 100 to 1.

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Chapter 4 Integrated Guidance and Control

4.1 Introduction

Traditional guidance and control design involves the use of a decoupled architecture wherein the airframe, sensor and propulsion systems and the guidance and control subsystems are treated separately thus requiring three discrete algorithms. The separated design and as a result the weak functional interaction amon the algorithms will mean a dicult performance optimisation problem to be solved. In the integrated guidance and control design, the three functions are designed to be performed by a single component. This paradigm is expected to improve the synergy between ight control and guidance functions as opposed to the decoupled architecture.

4.2

Overview [3]

Missile interceptors of the modern era are expected to engage dierent types of missiles whose trajectories are varied. They may be required to engage tactical ballisitc missiles (TBMs) or high performance cruise missiles. They may require a high degree of precision and thus highest kill probability considering the payloads these missiles may carry. The design of the missile must take care of future threats also. Hence next generation interceptors need to y faster and longer with a high degree of eciency, better resolution, increased maneuverability and required lethality. 16

4.3

Functions of Various IGC subsystems

The central role of guidance and control algorithm is to functionally integrate the various sub-systems. (a) IGC must ensure that the missile maintains stable ight and converges on the enemy missile/target with minimum miss distance. (b) IGC must ensure that the angle at which the missile converges is such that the onboard seeker is able to acquire the target and track it which is another critical function. (c) IGC must manage the propulsion and airframe subsystems in such a way as to maximise the range or time of ight. (d) In case of proximity fuse based warheads, the direction of approach needs to be controlled by IGC in such a way as to maximise the kill probability.

4.4

Traditional Guidance and Control Architecture

The traditional decoupled guidance and control architecture consists of the guidance lter, the guidance law and autopilot. (a) The guidance lter takes noisy target measurement data from which, for example, target position, velocity and acceleration with respect to Cartesian reference frame can be estimated. In general, a Lalman lter or an extended Kalman lter is used. (b) The guidance law takes the above inputs from the lter and determines the direction of travel of interceptor for a positive interception with the target/threat. Proportional Navigation guidance is one of the oldest guidance laws. (c) The autopilot ensures stable ight and also ensures the acceleration commands from the guidance computer are tracked with required accuracy through proper commands to the airframe (e.g. ns) or propulsion (e.g., thrust vector) subsystems.

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(d) The inertial navigation system is used for determining the instantaneous missile position in range as well as heading (co-ordinates).

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References
[1] J. H. Blakelock, Automatic Control of Aircraft and Missiles,Second Edition. York: John Wiley and Sons,Inc, 1990. [2] P. Garnell, Guided Weapon Control Systems. London: Brasseys Defence Publishers, 1980. [3] Palumbo, Integrated guidance and control, John Hopkins, vol. 79, no. 12, pp. 17361768, 1991. [4] P. Zarchan, Tactical Missile Guidance. New York: John Wiley and Sons,Inc, 1990. New

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