Vehicle guidance system and method that uses air data from surface-mounted pressure sensors for vehicle orientation control

A method for guiding a vehicle that includes at least four surface-mounted pressure sensors mounted on the vehicle and an air data estimation controller connected to each of the plurality of surface-mounted pressure sensors, wherein the air data estimation controller includes a preprocessor and an air data processor, the method comprising:

• detecting, by each sensor, a surface pressure distribution for a location of each such sensor on the vehicle;
• setting, by the preprocessor, an initial value for angle of attack of the vehicle and an initial value for sideslip angle of the vehicle;
• receiving, in the preprocessor, surface pressure distribution values of one or more first sets of three surface-mounted pressure sensors, each first set of three surface-mounted pressure sensors are located among three different geometric planes that are parallel to the ground;
• determining, by the preprocessor, a converged value for the angle of attack by iteration using the initial value for angle of attack, the initial value for sideslip angle, and the surface pressure distribution values of the one or more first sets of three surface-mounted pressure sensors;
• receiving, in the preprocessor, surface pressure distribution values of one or more second sets of three surface-mounted pressure sensors, each second set of three surface-mounted pressure sensors are located among three different geometric planes that are perpendicular to the ground, wherein the first and second sets of pressure sensors differ by at least one pressure sensor and all pressure sensors comprising the first and second sets of pressure sensors are positioned on the vehicle in a non-cruciform manner;
• determining, by the preprocessor, a converged sideslip angle value by iteration based on the converged value for the angle of attack and the surface pressure distribution values of the one or more second sets of three surface- mounted pressure sensors;
• outputting the converged value for the angle of attack and the converged sideslip angle value from the preprocessor to the air data processor;
• estimating, by the air data processor, air data parameters based on the converged value for the angle of attack and the converged sideslip angle value;
• outputting the estimated air data parameters from the air data processor to a flight control processor;
• and
• providing, from the flight control processor, an output for adjusting an orientation of the vehicle based on the estimated air data parameters to a vehicle control system.