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ACTA AERONAUTICAET ASTRONAUTICA SINICA ›› 2023, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (8): 27265-027265.doi: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2022.27265

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General planning method for energy optimal flight path of solar⁃powered aircraft in near space

Xianzhong GAO, Xiaolong DENG, Yujie WANG, Zheng GUO, Zhongxi HOU()   

  1. College of Aerospace Engineering,National University of Defense Technology,Changsha  410073,China
  • Received:2022-04-08 Revised:2022-05-06 Accepted:2022-05-30 Online:2023-04-25 Published:2022-06-08
  • Contact: Zhongxi HOU E-mail:hzx@nudt.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(52172410)

Abstract:

Solar-powered aircraft is one of the most promising technical route for the development of low-speed aerial vehicle in near space, and is expected to be an ideal platform for regional communication, relay and transportation.N×24-hour energy closed loop is the crucial problem for the development of near space solar-powered aircraft,and is also a key technology for aircraft to have the ability of “regional maintenance & time sustainability”. The energy optimal flight path planning method is an effective technical route to solve the problem of day-night energy closed-loop of solar-powered aircraft in near space. Currently, there are two methods for energy optimal flight path planning: one is the method without considering the change of wind field, and the other is the method without considering the change of large-scale altitude. Analysis and comment are given to the research results of these two methods. In order to conquer the difficulties and challenges brought by these two different processing frameworks in practical engineering application, suggestion is proposed to build a uniform framework based on reinforcement learning to form a “general” flight path planning method. This framework should consider the changes of solar radiation, space altitude and wind field, and also the effects of energy stored by gravity potential and energy harvested from wind shear. The key technologies to achieve this aim are analyzed: The environmental characterization and reconstruction of wind field; the impact of near space gradient wind field on the energy of solar aircraft glide trajectory; The generation and classification of optimal flight path demonstration trajectory; the construction of solar aircraft reinforcement learning framework based on demonstration trajectory. This paper provides theoretical support for the design method of energy optimal flight path planning, and technical support for realization of high-altitude long-endurance flight.

Key words: near space, solar-powered aircraft, energy optimal, planning method of flight path, environment energy

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