A Review of Various Control Algorithms Used for a Solid Rocket Motor to Achieve Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to provide a critical review of different guidance, navigation and control (GNC) schemes that can achieve vertical take-off/ vertical landing (VTVL), which is where a rocket takes off and lands propulsively, using a model rocket. Reusable launch vehicles (RLVs), many of which use VTVL, could lower costs, decrease waste and allow for more scientific research extraterrestrially. Existing research typically only presents an attitude controller, which is insufficient for VTVL, whilst our main contribution is presenting GNC schemes for VTVL and comparing them to determine the best. The schemes are simulated with varying parameters to test the robustness and to evaluate their performance, with linear control and non-linear navigation and guidance perform the ing best.