Optimal control and estimation for strapdown seeker guidance of tactical missiles

Recent advances in seeker technology have increased the fields-of-view significantly, such that future missiles could have the seeker fixed to its body (eliminating the gimbals) with fields-of-view in excess of 90 degrees. These body-fixed (strap-down) seekers introduce large measurement errors caused by their optics and electronics. Conventional guidance and filtering techniques do not work well with strapdown seeker measurements. Recent dither adaptive approaches to generate inertial measurements from the body fixed measurements in order to use conventional guidance have failed to work in higher engagements. However, guidance and estimation algorithms derived from optical control theory can function well with strapdown seeker measurements in high g engagements, resulting in greatly improved missile performance.