Optimal Control Methods
Novel collocation, mesh refinement, and sparse nonlinear programming methods for complex constrained optimal control problems.
Research
Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory
The laboratory develops computational methods for optimal control and trajectory optimization, with applications in aerospace engineering, mechanical systems, and related engineering domains.
Aerospace Applications
Applications include space flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, atmospheric flight mechanics, high-speed ascent-entry missions, and hypersonic vehicle trajectory optimization.
Software
Research methods are translated into software including GPOPS and GPOPS-II for solving multiple-phase optimal control problems.
VDOL Research Overview
The Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory develops computational frameworks for optimal control, including collocation methods, mesh refinement, derivative estimation, nonlinear optimization, and general-purpose software such as GPOPS-II, ADiGator, and CGPOPS. The framework supports applications in spacecraft trajectory optimization, flight trajectory optimization, atmospheric flight mechanics, robotics, biomechanics, and related engineering systems.
