Optimal control in estimation problems

A direct problem consists in evaluating the optimal control to apply to an object directed towards its destination point (DP) by minimizing a pre-defined cost functional. An inverse problem can also be considered by estimating the DP of an object directed towards a complex environment when no possibility is given to control it. The control behavior of the object can be simulated by processing its kinematic data. So, the application of optimal control theory to solve this problem is quite unusual: the main contribution of this work is to use the hypothesis of a conventional control law for the object (proportional navigation law) and to compare it to advanced control laws derived from the optimal control theory. Moreover the use of optimal control in DP estimation seems to be a convenient way to detect particular behaviors discriminating the DP among possible ones