Reusable Launch Vehicle Wind Drift Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable launch vehicles face challenges in accurately landing due to wind drift during descent, which can cause deviation from the intended vertical path, leading to increased costs and complexity in reconditioning and infrastructure requirements.
Innovation Solution
The technology employs aerodynamic control surfaces and propulsion devices to compensate for wind drift by adjusting the vehicle's attitude and trajectory before engaging propulsion, ensuring the vehicle remains aligned with the vertical descent path, using a computing environment to determine optimal rotation angles and engage propulsion devices to maintain a stable descent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the vehicle descends vertically without compensation, then the descent path is simple and direct, but wind causes drift away from the vertical descent path
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary wind drift compensation by calculating the expected drift distance and commanding the vehicle to position itself upwind of the intended landing site before propulsion engagement. This preliminary positioning action ensures that when propulsion is engaged and the vehicle descends vertically, it will land at the correct location despite wind effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional vertical descent control to three-dimensional trajectory control by incorporating horizontal wind drift compensation. The control system calculates both vertical descent parameters and horizontal positioning adjustments, enabling the vehicle to maintain accurate landing position while descending vertically.
2Measurement precision
If propulsion devices are engaged early to counteract wind drift, then landing position accuracy improves, but fuel expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning using aerodynamic control surfaces before propulsion engagement, rather than relying on propulsion for continuous drift compensation. This preliminary action establishes the correct trajectory early, allowing the vehicle to descend vertically with minimal or no propulsion engagement, thereby reducing fuel consumption while maintaining landing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces propulsion-based drift compensation with aerodynamic control surface manipulation. By using aerodynamic forces generated by control surfaces to position the vehicle upwind before descent, the system eliminates the need for continuous propulsion engagement during descent, significantly reducing fuel expenditure.
3Measurement precision
If the vehicle adjusts attitude to compensate for wind during descent, then landing position accuracy improves, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system calculates the required attitude adjustment and positioning corrections in advance, before propulsion engagement. By determining the optimal upwind position and attitude early in the descent phase, the system simplifies real-time control requirements during the critical propulsion engagement period, reducing control complexity while maintaining accuracy.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle remains on the vertical descent path without compensation, then fuel expenditure is minimized, but wind drift causes deviation from the intended path
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary wind drift compensation by positioning the vehicle upwind before vertical descent begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the vehicle can maintain a true vertical descent path without requiring continuous propulsion engagement for drift compensation, thereby minimizing fuel expenditure while maintaining path accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for precise landing control, reducing fuel expenditure and enhancing safety by keeping the vehicle on the intended path, thus conserving fuel and minimizing reconditioning needs.
Implementation Method 1
the control surfaces and/or some propulsion devices can be used to adjust the attitude of the reusable launch vehicle before using propulsion devices to slow the reusable launch vehicle's descent
Implementation Method 2
When the reusable launch vehicle descends below a specified threshold altitude, it can engage one or more propulsion devices to slow its vertical descent rate significantly
Data Source
AI summary
Technology is described for enabling a reusable launch vehicle to compensate for wind prior to engaging propulsion during approach to landing. The technology can cause the reusable launch vehicle to begin un-powered descent; determine a first rotation angle of the reusable launch vehicle about a specified vertical descent path, the first rotation angle corresponding to a first attitude of the reusable launch vehicle selected to stabilize the reusable launch vehicle on the vertical descent path based on a wind speed and angle; and prior to engaging a propulsion device, command a second rotation angle for the reusable launch vehicle, the second rotation angle corresponding to a second attitude that, when the propulsion device is engaged, will cause the reusable launch vehicle to remain at least approximately at the vertical descent path.