Flight-based Tuning of Trajectory Prediction Tool for Free-Flight Cargo Payloads

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

M.Sc., Aerospace Engineering Department, Military Technical College, Egypt.

10.1088/1742-6596/2616/1//asat.2025.453554

Abstract

Acquiring a reliable trajectory prediction tool is essential for designing and assessing free-flight flying objects of all types and ranges instead of expensive live firings. A “reliable” trajectory model should accurately predict the entire flight path of the free-flight object. Nonetheless, for simplicity, it may be adequate for some limitations for the model to be considered to define the key events of the flying object with good approximation as well as low cost. Free-flight cargo payloads are one sophisticated means for both civil and military applications. In the case of military applications, such as cargo missiles, the events of burnout and cargo dispensing are the two key events that control the overall performance of missiles in terms of dispensing range and cargo performance. The objective of the present paper is to develop and validate a robust trajectory prediction tool for free-flight cargo missiles. A six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) flight model is adopted to predict the trajectory of a test case cargo missile. To enhance the accuracy of trajectory prediction, the model is augmented with tuning parameters to account for uncertainties in missile motor thrust as well as aerodynamic forces. These parameters are evaluated by minimizing the deviation between the simulation data and live firings of the case study missile. Results show a significant improvement in prediction accuracy upon the addition of these tuning parameters.

Keywords

International Conference on Aerospace Sciences and Aviation Technology
Volume 21, Issue 21
21st International Conference on Aerospace Sciences & Aviation Technology, ASAT 21, 2025.
September 2025
Pages 1-10

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