Extending the linear quadratic design of a launch vehicle attitude controller through genetic optimization

Abstract The combined LQ-genetic design of a launch vehicle attitude controller is considered, according interpolation issues. Firstly, an equivalent unstable control system - the inverted pendulum - is stated and its controllers obtained for each time instant, assuming a variant pendulum mass. Improvements are obtained when a gain smoothing factor is present in the cost function. Secondly, a launch vehicle model and its respective control system are considered. The proposed approach is applied and the results compared against the current design.