Low-observable Aircraft Route Planning Method

With the development of computer, automation and information technology, modernaircraft technology has experienced great changes. Patterns in the past can hardly meet theneed of modem war, and an effective solution to this problem is route planning. Therefore,this thesis makes a research on the route planning method of low observable aircraft. Themajor route planning algorithms are compared first and then the A~* algorithm is deeplystudied. Research is made on the cost function model of route planning, digital terrainmodel, threat model, and A~* algorithm which aims at various tasks and is based on datalink communication. In addition, the simulation software is developed and the researchresults are stated as follows:(1) The thesis makes research on digital terrain model according to the features of lowobservable aircraft. The needed digital terrain map is generated by combining the fractaltheory-based random terrain generation algorithm and the simulant mountain peakalgorithm.(2) Studies on threat model are conducted and the cost function is determined. Thethesis analyzes terrain threat, radar threat, air defense threat, no-fly zone, etc, and all thesehave provided foundation for the cost function parameter. The cost function of A~*algorithm needed in route planning is determined and optimized, and all the parameters areunified.(3) The thesis improves the A~*-based 3D-route planning algorithm through thecombination with data link communication. A tentative study is made on the function ofdata link in route planning and communication model. The A~*-based off-line, on-line,moving target and reselectable target route planning methods are studied under thecondition of data link communication.(4) The A~*-based cooperative route planning method for multiple vehicles is proposedin the present study. With the feature of acting while planning, the aircraft can explore thelimited planning area and multiple vehicles can cooperate to plan their route. By makinguse of additional movement and tactical cruise to coordinate the route, the cooperativepurpose is achieved and at last, the specific algorithm is formed.(5) The research designs and develops route planning simulation software which isbased on mixed program of VC and MATLAB. The simulation experiment is conducted onvarious tasks and the results prove the effectiveness of route planning method. In the final part, a conclusion about route planning method is made and suggestionsfor further research are given.