Aircraft trajectory optimization with application to a Lockheed L1011-100

Two forms of optimal dynamic interpolation are discussed. Two cost functions are considered. The first cost function penalizes acceleration; the second penalizes both acceleration and velocity excursion. Both have been applied to the L1011-100 vertical guidance problem, and results are presented. A flight management system´s (FMS) vertical flight plan is used to obtain way points which serve as inputs to the dynamic interpolation algorithm. The algorithm produces reference commands which are issued to a certified FAA L1011-100 model and an autopilot. The resulting dynamic behavior is compared to the results obtained from reference commands produced by an L1011-like commercial aircraft´s FMS model. Cubic spline solutions for the two different dynamic interpolation cost functional minimization problems are presented