DOCSLIB.ORG

Theater-Level Stochastic Air-To-Air Engagement Modeling Via Event Occurrence Networks Using Piecewise Polynomial Approximation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Theater-Level Stochastic Air-To-Air Engagement Modeling Via Event Occurrence Networks Using Piecewise Polynomial Approximation Air Force Institute of Technology AFIT Scholar Theses and Dissertations Student Graduate Works 9-2001 Theater-Level Stochastic Air-to-Air Engagement Modeling via Event Occurrence Networks Using Piecewise Polynomial Approximation David R. Denhard Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.afit.edu/etd Part of the Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons, and the Statistical Models Commons Recommended Citation Denhard, David R., "Theater-Level Stochastic Air-to-Air Engagement Modeling via Event Occurrence Networks Using Piecewise Polynomial Approximation" (2001). Theses and Dissertations. 4545. https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/4545 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Graduate Works at AFIT Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of AFIT Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. g THEATER-LEVEL STOCHASTIC AIR-TO- AIR ENGAGMENT MODELING VIA EVENT OCCURRENCE NETWORKS USING PIECEWISE POLYNOMIAL APPROXIMATION Dissertation D.R. Denhard, Major, USAF AFIT/DS/ENS/01-01 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE AIR UNIVERSITY AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED. Report Documentation Page Report Date Report Type Dates Covered (from... to) 01 Sep 2001 Final 01 May 1998 - 01 Sep 2001 Title and Subtitle Contract Number Theater-Level Stochastic Air-to-Air Engagement Modeling via Event Occurrence Networks Using Grant Number Piecewise Polynomial Approximation Program Element Number Author(s) Project Number Major D. R. Denhard, USAF Task Number Work Unit Number Performing Organization Name(s) and Address(es) Performing Organization Report Number Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate School of AFIT/DS/ENS/01-01 Engineering and Management (AFIT/EN) 2950 P Street, Building 640 WPAFB, OH 45433-7765 Sponsoring/Monitoring Agency Name(s) and Sponsor/Monitor’s Acronym(s) Address(es) Air Force Studies and Analyses Agency 1570 Air Force Pentagon Washington DC 20330-1570 ATTN: Maj raig Sponsor/Monitor’s Report Number(s) Knierem Distribution/Availability Statement Approved for public release, distribution unlimited Supplementary Notes Abstract This dissertation investigates a stochastic network formulation termed an event occurrence network (EON). EONs are graphical representations of the superposition of several terminating counting processes. An EON arc represents the occurrence of an event from a group of (sequential) events before the occurrence of events from other event groupings. Events between groups occur independently, but events within a group occur sequentially. A set of arcs leaving a node is a set of competing events, which are probabilistically resolved by order relations. An important EON metric is the probability of being at a particular node or set of nodes at time t. Such a probability is formulated as an integral expression (generally a multiple integral expression) involving event probability density functions. This integral expression involves several stochastic operators: subtraction; multiplication; convolution, and integration. For the EON probability metric, simulation is generally computationally costly to obtain accurate estimates for large EONs, transient nodes, or "rare" states. Instead, using research with probabilistic activity networks, a numerical approximation technique using piecewise polynomial functions is developed. The dissertation’s application area is air-to-air combat modeling. Subject Terms Air Combat, Event Occurrence Networks, Probabilistic Networks, Activity Networks, Piecewise Polynomial Approximation, Simulation Report Classification Classification of this page unclassified unclassified Classification of Abstract Limitation of Abstract unclassified UU Number of Pages 379 The views expressed in this dissertation are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the U. S. Government. AFIT/DS/ENS/01-01 THEATER-LEVEL STOCHASTIC AIR-TO-AIR ENGAGEMENT MODELING VIA EVENT OCCURRENCE NETWORKS USING PIECEWISE POLYNOMIAL APPROXIMATION DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty Graduate School of Engineering and Management Air Force Institute of Technology Air University Air Education and Training Command in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy D.R. Denhard, B.S., M.S. Major, USAF September 2001 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED. AFIT/DS/ENS/01-01 THEATER-LEVEL STOCHASTIC AIR-TO-AIR ENGAGEMENT MODELING VIA EVENT OCCURRENCE NETWORKS USING PIECEWISE POLYNOMIAL APPROXIMATION D.R. Denhard, B.S., M.S. Major, USAF Approved: Date ____________________________________ Jack M. Kloeber, LTC(retired), USA (Chairman) ____________________________________ Dennis W. Quinn, PE, Professor ____________________________________ Dennis C. Dietz, LtCol(retired), USAF (Member) ____________________________________ Raymond R. Hill, LtCol, USAF (Member) ____________________________________ E. Price Smith, LtCol, USAF (Member) Accepted: ________________________________________ Robert A. Calico, Jr. Date Dean, Graduate School of Engineering and Management Dedicated in loving memory to my father whose grin I can sense from above Acknow ledgements Many p eople deserve a great deal of thanks in bringing this dissertation to a conclusion First and foremost I would like to express my sincere thanks to my b eautiful wife Without her this dissertation would never have b een completed Thanks bab e Tomy committee chairman Dr Dennis Dietz Lt Col USAF Retired and Dr Jack Klo eb er LTC USA Retired thanks for your guidance and patience Twoof the smartest men I haveever met your critiques of the researchwere always fo cused pro ductive and timely To the many committee memb ers I have had over the years Col Jack Jackson Lt Col Edward Pohl Lt Col E Price Smith and Ma j Paul Murdo ck thanks for your guidance and participation A sp ecial thanks to Lt Col Ray Hill whose guidance over the years and attention to detail piloted me toward graduation DR Denhard v Table of Contents Page Acknowledgements v List of Figures x List of Tables xiii Abstract xvi I Intro duction AirtoAir Engagement Military Mo dels AirtoAir EngagementModels Probabilistic Networks Problem Description Sequence of Presentation II Probabilistic Network Literature Graph Theoretic Underpinnings of Probabilistic Networks Examples of Probabilistic Networks Activity Networks Petri Nets Task Precedence SeriesParallel Graphs Belief Networks Complexity of Probabilistic Networks Solution Metho ds for Probabilistic Networks Summary vi Page III AirtoAir Engagement Literature Intro duction Analytic Mo dels Simulation Mo dels Summary IV Event Occurrence Networks Intro duction Description AirtoAir Engagement Examples Underlying Probabilistic Mo del No de State Explosion Problem Integral Solution State Integral Expression EventTierIntegral Expressions Event Tier u Integral Expressions Bucket Analysis Summary V Piecewise Polynomial Approximation Intro duction Piecewise Polynomial Functions Piecewise Polynomial Approximation and Interp olation Past Use in DensityFunction Estimation and Sto chastic Op erations Discussion Summary vii Page VI EON Solution Using Piecewise Polynomial Approximation Intro duction Probability DensityFunction Approximation Integration Sto chastic Op erator Approximation Approximation of P E e j E e j g T g T j j T j T Multiplication Sto chastic Op erator Approximation c F e f e g T E g T E g T j c c F e F e e f g T g T g T E E E g T j T j T F e f e E g T E g T g T j n j c c F e F e g T g T E E i j c c e e F F g T g T E E iT iT c c F e F e g T g T E E j T j T e e F F g T g T E E j i n n j i c c c e e F e F F g T g T g T E E E j T j T i c e F e F g T g T E E j i n j c c e e F F e F g T g T E g T E E j T j T i n i c c c F e e F e F g T g T g T E E E j T j T i e f g T E g T c e f e e F F g T E g T g T E E g T j i n j c c e F e F e F g T g T g T E E E j T j T i n i f e E g T g T c c c e F e F e F e F g T g T g T g T E E E E j T j T k i n k c c c F e F e F e F e g T g T g T E g T E E E j T j T k i n k e f g T E g T Convolution Sto chastic Op erator Approximation Simple AirtoAir Engagement Example viii Page Large EON AirtoAir Engagement Summary VI I Summary and Recommendations Research Goals and Summary Recommendations App endix A AirtoAir EngagementEnvironment A Strategy A Missions A AirtoAir Engagement Spatial Layout A Aircraft A Detection and Identication A Weap ons A Command Control Communications and Information A Electronic Warfare A Tactics and Maneuvers App endix B THUNDERs AirtoAir Engagement
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Evaluation of Fighter Evasive Maneuvers Against Proportional Navigation Missiles
    TURKISH NAVAL ACADEMY NAVAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INSTITUTE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING EVALUATION OF FIGHTER EVASIVE MANEUVERS AGAINST PROPORTIONAL NAVIGATION MISSILES Master Thesis REMZ Đ AKDA Ğ Advisor: Assist.Prof. D.Turgay Altılar Đstanbul, 2005 Copyright by Naval Science and Engineering Institute, 2005 CERTIFICATE OF COMMITTEE APPROVAL EVALUATION OF FIGHTER EVASIVE MANEUVERS AGAINST PROPORTIONAL NAVIGATION MISSILES Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING from the TURKISH NAVAL ACADEMY Author: Remzi Akda ğ Defense Date : 13 / 07 / 2005 Approved by : 13 / 07 / 2005 Assist.Prof. Deniz Turgay Altılar (Advisor) Prof. Ercan Öztemel (Defense Committee Member) Assoc.Prof. Coşkun Sönmez (Defense Committee Member) ABSTRACT (TURKISH) SAVA Ş UÇAKLARININ ORANTISAL SEY ĐR YAPAN GÜDÜMLÜ MERM ĐLERDEN SAKINMA MANEVRALARININ DE ĞERLEND ĐRĐLMES Đ Anahtar Kelimeler : Orantısal seyir, sakınma manevraları, aerodinamik kuvvetler Bu tezde, orantısal seyir adı verilen güdüm sistemiyle ilerleyen güdümlü mermilere kar şı uçaklar tarafından icra edilen sakınma manevralarının etkinli ği ölçülmü ş, farklı güdümlü mermilerden kaçı ş için en uygun manevralar tanımlanmı ştır. Uçu ş aerodinamikleri, matematiksel modele bir temel oluşturmak amacıyla sunulmu ştur. Bir hava sava şında güdümlü mermilerden sakınmak için uçaklar tarafından icra edilen belli ba şlı manevraların matematiksel modelleri çıkarılıp uygulanılmı ş, görsel simülasyonu gerçekle ştirilmi ş ve bu manevraların de ğişik ba şlangıç de ğerlerine göre ba şarım çözümlemeleri yapılmıştır. Güdümlü mermi-uçak kar şıla şma senaryolarında güdümlü merminin terminal güdüm aşaması ele alınmı ştır. Gerçekçi çözümleme sonuçları elde edebilmek amacıyla uçu ş aerodinamiklerinin göz önüne alınmasıyla elde edilen yönlendirme kinematiklerini içeren geni şletilmi ş nokta kütleli uçak modeli kullanılmı ştır.
    [Show full text]
  • Update on the F–35 Joint Strike Fighter Program
    i [H.A.S.C. No. 114–58] UPDATE ON THE F–35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER PROGRAM HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON TACTICAL AIR AND LAND FORCES OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION HEARING HELD OCTOBER 21, 2015 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 97–492 WASHINGTON : 2016 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 SUBCOMMITTEE ON TACTICAL AIR AND LAND FORCES MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio, Chairman FRANK A. LOBIONDO, New Jersey LORETTA SANCHEZ, California JOHN FLEMING, Louisiana NIKI TSONGAS, Massachusetts CHRISTOPHER P. GIBSON, New York HENRY C. ‘‘HANK’’ JOHNSON, JR., Georgia PAUL COOK, California TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois BRAD R. WENSTRUP, Ohio MARC A. VEASEY, Texas JACKIE WALORSKI, Indiana TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota SAM GRAVES, Missouri DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey MARTHA MCSALLY, Arizona RUBEN GALLEGO, Arizona STEPHEN KNIGHT, California MARK TAKAI, Hawaii THOMAS MACARTHUR, New Jersey GWEN GRAHAM, Florida WALTER B. JONES, North Carolina SETH MOULTON, Massachusetts JOE WILSON, South Carolina JOHN SULLIVAN, Professional Staff Member DOUG BUSH, Professional Staff Member NEVE SCHADLER, Clerk (II) C O N T E N T S Page STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Turner, Hon. Michael R., a Representative from Ohio, Chairman, Subcommit- tee on Tactical Air and Land Forces .................................................................. 1 WITNESSES Bogdan, Lt Gen Christopher C., USAF, Program Executive Officer, F–35 Joint Program Office, U.S. Department of Defense .......................................... 2 Harrigian, Maj Gen Jeffrey L., USAF, Director, F–35 Integration Office, U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Autonomous Aerobatics: a Linear Algorithm and Implementation for a Slow Roll Student: Michael Brett Pearce1 Professors: Dr
    Autonomous Aerobatics: A Linear Algorithm and Implementation for a Slow Roll Student: Michael Brett Pearce1 Professors: Dr. Larry Silverberg2, Dr. Ashok Golpalarathnam3, Dr. Gregory Buckner4 Technical Expert on Aerobatics: John White, Master Aerobatic Instructor 2061858 CFI5 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Introduction Control Algorithm Methodology Custom Designed Airframe Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles ( ’s) are becoming common on the battlefield airspace but to date UCAV 1.21:1 Thrust to Twin Rudders for Yaw A pilot is essentially a PID Controller. The author’s unique aviation Control they have not been implemented in fighters due to the complexity of executing maneuvers required and VF-1 Valkyrie Weight Ratio the nonlinearities in aerodynamics, control response, control inputs required, and extreme attitudes. experience as a Certificated Flight Instructor and competition aerobatic pilot Custom Designed for project requirements Flapperons for Split Elevons for Thrust in powered and sailplanes is applied and converted to a mathematical basis. Hyper maneuverable aerobatic airframe with Slow Speed Flight Vectoring Such maneuvers are crucial for , low level penetration Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM, “dogfighting”) full 3-axis thrust vectoring with extreme maneuvering for bombing targets, escape and evasion from missiles, and "jinking" for This reduces the control problem to a linear system, bypassing the analytical, Capable of unlimited aerobatics and post stall avoiding ground to air gunfire. Such flying is collectively known as Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM). maneuvering computational, and monetary issues with a typical engineering approach. Onboard autopilot in a custom chassis BFM is fundamentally composed of aerobatics, and aerobatics itself is fundamentally composed of a few Foam core composite airframe stressed for in basic maneuvers.
    [Show full text]
  • Afi 11-2F-16V3, F-16
    BY ORDER OF THE AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 11-2F-16, SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE VOLUME 3 1 JULY 1999 Flying Operations F-16--OPERATIONS PROCEDURES COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY NOTICE: This publication is available digitally on the AFDPO WWW site at: http://afpubs.hq.af.mil. If you lack access, contact your Publishing Distribution Office (PDO). OPR: HQ ACC/XOFT Certified by: HQ USAF/XOO (Maj Douglas E. Young) (Maj Gen Michael S. Kudlacz) Supersedes MCI 11-F16V3, 21 April 1995; EMC Pages: 94 96-1, 041750Z Mar 96; IC 98-1, Distribution: F 211355Z Jan 98; IC 98-2, 162055Z Jul 98 This volume implements AFPD 11-2, Aircraft Rules and Procedures; AFPD 11-4, Aviation Service; and AFI 11-202V3, General Flight Rules. It applies to all F-16 units. MAJCOM/DRU/FOA-level supple- ments to this volume are to be approved prior to publication IAW AFPD 11-2. Copies of MAJCOM/ DRU/FOA-level supplements, after approved and published, will be provided by the issuing MAJCOM/ DRU/FOA to HQ AFFSA/XOF, HQ ACC/XOFT, and the user MAJCOM and ANG offices of primary responsibility. Field units below MAJCOM/DRU/FOA level will forward copies of their supplements to this publication to their parent MAJCOM/DRU/FOA office of primary responsibility for post publication review. NOTE: The terms direct reporting unit (DRU) and field operating agency (FOA) as used in this paragraph refer only to those DRUs/FOAs that report directly to HQ USAF. Keep supplements current by complying with AFI 33-360V1, Publications Management Program.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Thorsen Dissertation.Pdf
    The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Engineering A UNIFIED FLIGHT CONTROL METHODOLOGY FOR A COMPOUND ROTORCRAFT IN FUNDAMENTAL AND AEROBATIC MANEUVERING FLIGHT A Dissertation in Aerospace Engineering by Adam Thorsen 2016 Adam Thorsen Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2016 The dissertation of Adam Thorsen was reviewed and approved* by the following: Joseph F. Horn Professor of Aerospace Engineering Dissertation Advisor Chair of Committee Edward C. Smith Professor of Aerospace Engineering Christopher Rahn Professor of Mechanical Engineering Associate Dean for Innovation of the College of Engineering Kenneth S. Brentner Professor of Aerospace Engineering Philip J. Morris Boeing, A.D. Welliver Professor of Aerospace Engineering Interim Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii ABSTRACT This study investigates a novel approach to flight control for a compound rotorcraft in a variety of maneuvers ranging from fundamental to aerobatic in nature. Fundamental maneuvers are a class of maneuvers with design significance that are useful for testing and tuning flight control systems along with uncovering control law deficiencies. Aerobatic maneuvers are a class of aggressive and complex maneuvers with more operational significance. The process culminating in a unified approach to flight control includes various control allocation studies for redundant controls in trim and maneuvering flight, an efficient methodology to simulate non- piloted maneuvers with varying degrees of complexity, and the setup of an unconventional control inceptor configuration along with the use of a flight simulator to gather pilot feedback in order to improve the unified control architecture.
    [Show full text]
  • 21 St Century Air-To-Air Short Range Weapon Requirements
    AU/ACSC/210/1998-04 AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE AIR UNIVERSITY 21ST CENTURY AIR-TO-AIR SHORT RANGE WEAPON REQUIREMENTS by Stuart O. Nichols, Major, USAF A Research Report Submitted to the Faculty In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements Advisor: Major Woody Watkins Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama April 1998 Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. In accordance with Air Force Instruction 51-303, it is not copyrighted, but is the property of the United States government. ii Contents Page DISCLAIMER................................................................................................................ ii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... v INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 HISTORY OF AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT.......................................................................... 1 World War I.............................................................................................................. 2 World War II ............................................................................................................ 3 Korean War............................................................................................................... 3 Vietnam War............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • History --- Page Number 
    20th FIGHTER PROUD BIRDS OF THE 20th FIGHTER WING L-R: Wing Commander’s F-16CJ Block 50, 00-0220, 79th FS Commander’s F-16C Block 50D, 91-0379; 55th FS Commander’s F-16C Block 50Q, 93-0554; 77th FS Commander’s F-16C Block 50D, 91-0377. Photo from 20th FW, Shaw AFB, SC Historian 20th Fighter Wing Association April 2018 20th Fighter Wing History --- Page Number . HISTORY OF THE 20th FIGHTER GROUP Early History of the 20th Fighter Group’s Squadrons WW I It was August 1917. It had been only fourteen years since the first powered flight and ten years since the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Army Signal Corps had been formed. Air power was in its infancy and growing. The possibilities were endless. New innovations were occurring everywhere you looked but the Great War raged in Europe and the U.S. was gearing up for its part in that war. Three squadrons familiar to us all were formed at Kelly Field, Texas - the 55th, 77th and 79th Aero Squadrons. It is believed the first 78th Aero Squadron was also formed there. Only the 55th’s history would survive this initial formation to connect with the current squadrons. The Air Service hadn’t yet figured out what it would look like, so there were many fits and starts as the service grew. By September the three squadrons had their designations changed to Aero Construction Squadrons. On Sept. 17, 1917 the 55th Aero Construction Squadron was on its way to N.Y. for deployment to France.
    [Show full text]
  • Rule-Based Air Combat Simulation
    https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19890018022 2020-03-20T01:57:00+00:00Z NASA Contractor Report 4160 Rule-Based Air Combat Simulation G. H. Burgin and L. B. Sidor Titan Systems, Inc. La Jolla, California Prepared for Ames Research Center Dryden Flight Research Facility under Contract NAS2-11990 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Division 1988 FOREWORD While Titan wasunder Contract to the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (Contract NAS2-11990), Titan was also under contract to the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field (Contract NAS2-11824). Both contracts had as ultimate goals to improve the Adaptive Maneuvering Logic Air-to-Air Combat Computer program. The emphasis in the Moffett Field program was to improve the guidance laws, regardless of required execution time on a computer. In contrast, the Dryden effort was to provide a robust decision logic, guaranteed to work in real time. The logic developed for Dryden should eventually drive an actual aircraft in real flight. During the course of this work, it would have been unproductive to keep book which of the AML improvements should be credited to the Moffett Field contract and which ones to the Dryden contract. This final report on contract NAS2-11990 is therefore essentially the same as the final report on contract NAS2-11824 (Simulation of Modern Air-to-Air Combat). The present report has some material added in section 3 and a substantially enlarged section 5. It also contains an Appendix with the Fortran listing of the subroutines
    [Show full text]
  • NASA Aeronautics Book Series
    . Douglas A. Joyce Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Joyce, Douglas A. Flying beyond the stall : the X-31 and the advent of supermaneuverability / by Douglas A. Joyce. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Stability of airplanes--Research--United States. 2. X-31 (Jet fighter plane) 3. Research aircraft--United States. 4. Stalling (Aerodynamics) I. Title. TL574.S7J69 2014 629.132’360724--dc23 2014022571 During the production of this book, the Dryden facility was renamed the Armstrong Flight Research Center. All references to the Dryden facility have been preserved for historical accuracy. Copyright © 2014 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The opinions expressed in this volume are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the United States Government or of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. ISBN 978-1-62683-019-6 90000 9 781626 830196 This publication is available as a free download at http://www.nasa.gov/ebooks. Author Dedication v Foreword: The World’s First International X-Airplane vii Prologue: The Participants xi Chapter 1: Origins and Design Development .......................................................1 In the Beginning…: The Quest for Supermaneuverability ........................3 Defining a Supermaneuverable Airplane: The Path to EFM ......................5 Design and Development of the X-31 ................................................. 13 Fabrication to Eve of First Flight .........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Maneuver Strategy Generation of UCAV for Within Visual Range Air Combat Based on Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning and Target Position Prediction
    Article Maneuver Strategy Generation of UCAV for within Visual Range Air Combat Based on Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning and Target Position Prediction Weiren Kong * , Deyun Zhou , Zhen Yang , Kai Zhang and Lina Zeng * School of Electronics and Information, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; [email protected] (D.Z.); [email protected] (Z.Y.); [email protected] (K.Z.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (W.K.); [email protected] (L.Z.) Received: 30 June 2020; Accepted: 27 July 2020; Published: 28 July 2020 Abstract: With the development of unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) and artificial intelligence (AI), within visual range (WVR) air combat confrontations utilizing intelligent UCAVs are expected to be widely used in future air combats. As controlling highly dynamic and uncertain WVR air combats from the ground stations of the UCAV is not feasible, it is necessary to develop an algorithm that can generate highly intelligent air combat strategies in order to enable UCAV to independently complete air combat missions. In this paper, a 1-vs.-1 WVR air combat strategy generation algorithm is proposed using the multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient (MADDPG). A 1-vs.-1 WVR air combat is modeled as a two-player zero-sum Markov game (ZSMG). A method for predicting the position of the target is introduced into the model in order to enable the UCAV to predict the target’s actions and position. Moreover, to ensure that the UCAV is not limited by the constraints of the basic fighter maneuver (BFM) library, the action space is considered to be a continuous one.
    [Show full text]
  • Rule-Based Air Combat Simulation
    NASA Contractor Report 4160 Rule-Based Air Combat Simulation G. H. Burgin and L. B. Sidor Titan Systems, Inc. La Jolla, California Prepared for Ames Research Center Dryden Flight Research Facility under Contract NAS2-11990 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Division 1988 FOREWORD While Titan wasunder Contract to the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (Contract NAS2-11990), Titan was also under contract to the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field (Contract NAS2-11824). Both contracts had as ultimate goals to improve the Adaptive Maneuvering Logic Air-to-Air Combat Computer program. The emphasis in the Moffett Field program was to improve the guidance laws, regardless of required execution time on a computer. In contrast, the Dryden effort was to provide a robust decision logic, guaranteed to work in real time. The logic developed for Dryden should eventually drive an actual aircraft in real flight. During the course of this work, it would have been unproductive to keep book which of the AML improvements should be credited to the Moffett Field contract and which ones to the Dryden contract. This final report on contract NAS2-11990 is therefore essentially the same as the final report on contract NAS2-11824 (Simulation of Modern Air-to-Air Combat). The present report has some material added in section 3 and a substantially enlarged section 5. It also contains an Appendix with the Fortran listing of the subroutines implementing the IIBasic Fighter Maneuverstt. i CONTENTS Section Page SUMMARY
    [Show full text]
  • The Cult of the Lightweight Fighter: Culture and Technology in the U.S. Air Force, 1964-1991
    The Cult of the Lightweight Fighter: Culture and Technology in the U.S. Air Force, 1964-1991 by Michael Wayne Hankins B.A., University of North Texas, 2007 M.S., University North Texas, 2013 AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of History College of Arts and Sciences KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2018 Abstract In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, military aviation technology grew expensive and politically divisive, and this is not without precedent. In the 1960s and 1970s, the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon represented a controversial shift both in the cost of development and in tactical doctrine for the United States Air Force (USAF), yet the motivating factors that influenced their design are not fully understood. Most of the literature either has focused on a teleological exploration of technical evolution or has held to a “genius inventor” paradigm, lionizing individual engineers and planners. Other works have focused on these aircraft as factors that changed the Air Force's tactical approach to warfighting or have simply evaluated their combat performance. Although these approaches are valuable, they do not account for the effect that institutional culture and historical memory had on the F-15 and F-16 programs. This dissertation argues that the culture of the fighter pilot community was based on a constructed memory of World War I fighter combat, idealizing a heroic, romanticized image of “Knights of the Air.” This fighter pilot community attempted to influence the F-15 and F-16 programs to conform to their vision of an idealized past.
    [Show full text]