Trajectory Optimization Procedures for Rotorcraft Vehicles, Their Software Implementation, and Applicability to Models of Increasing Complexity

This paper describes numerical procedures for the solution of trajectory optimization problems in rotorcraft flight mechanics. We specifically consider procedures which can be easily interfaced with black-box flight simulators, with minimal assumptions on the functionalities of such third-party software components, and which can cater to a wide range of vehicle models of varying complexity. At first we identify in the direct approach to the solution of maneuver optimal control problems the Presented at the American Helicopter Society 64th Annual Forum, Montreal, Canada, April 29 – May 1, 2008.

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