Optimal thrust design of a missile with a pulse motor

An optimal thrust design with a realistic pulse motor for midcourse guidance of a missile is proposed. First, the optimal thrust pattern which maximizes the missile final velocity is calculated by solving a nonlinear two-point boundary value problem. Second, the way of implementing this pattern with a realistic pulse motor is studied. The result shows that the optimal thrust pattern is well approximated by a two pulses type of a rocket motor. The optimization of the two pulses control and the comparison with single thrust control are studied and dis-