Graduation Semester and Year
2021
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
First Advisor
Atilla Dogan
Abstract
Basic fighter maneuvering, or BFM, is the dynamic engagement of two or more aircraft in close-range air combat. The relatively recent introduction of advanced unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) has opened the possibility for automated systems to be players in this arena of air-to-air combat, which has thus far been limited to manned aircraft. In order to design an unmanned system that could fight and win a BFM engagement, the system must include an advanced system for guidance. This dissertation leverages techniques from gain scheduling and incorporates adjustable aimpoint guidance, in order to address the capability for UCAVs to execute autonomous BFM. It also redefines how success is measured for an autonomous fighter aircraft in BFM. Finally, this guidance method also incorporates a concept known as Vertical Energy-Maneuverability, which quantities an aircraft’s specific power at various energy states when maneuvering nose high or nose low.
Keywords
UAV, Air combat, BFM, Autonomous guidance
Disciplines
Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Dean, Jeffery G., "Autonomous Guidance of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles in Basic Fighter Maneuvering" (2021). Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations. 302.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/mechaerospace_dissertations/302
Comments
Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington