Flight management via model-based iterative optimization

A system comprising:

• a memory storing processor-executable program instructions;
• and
• a processor to execute the processor-executable program instructions to:
• obtain flight data including a flight specification and other flight related data for a specific aircraft for a future prescribed flight, the flight specification including at least flight constraints, a starting location, a destination location, and transient performance limits of the specific aircraft;
• and the other flight related data including future atmospheric conditions the specific aircraft will be subjected to when employing control commands generated by the processor and executing the future prescribed flight, and air traffic control information relevant to the future prescribed flight;
• generating control histories based on historical performances and generating corresponding state trajectories for the specific aircraft based on the flight data and performing model predictive control to predict a future performance of the specific aircraft and adjusting current control input actions to further control the specific aircraft to perform in an optimized manner during the future prescribed flight;
• obtain current sample measurements of at least one state or output of the specific aircraft during execution of the future prescribed flight;
• perform a control optimization based on the obtained flight data, the current measurements or outputs by a feedback loop, and a mathematical model representing an actual operational performance of the specific aircraft and further providing a predictive indication of a future performance of the specific aircraft in response to a current state or input to the specific aircraft;
• determine, based on the control optimization, a control input optimized to minimize a direct operating cost of the specific aircraft for the prescribed flight;
• adjust, in response to a consideration of actual operational characteristics of the specific aircraft, the optimized control input;
• transmit the adjusted optimized control input to the specific aircraft for use thereby to operate the specific aircraft to execute the prescribed flight to minimize the direct operating cost for a first portion of the prescribed flight;
• and
• iteratively repeat, for successive sequential instances in time for a remaining portion of the prescribed flight, the operations of obtaining the flight data, obtaining the current sample measurements or outputs, performing the control optimization, adjusting the optimized control input according to the control optimization performed at each successive sequential instance in time, and transmitting the transmitting the adjusted optimized control input to the specific aircraft.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having processor-executable program instructions stored thereon, the medium comprising:

• program instructions to obtain flight data including a flight, specification and other flight related data for a specific aircraft for a future prescribed flight, the flight specification including at least flight constraints, a starting location, a destination location, and transient performance limits of the specific aircraft:
• and the other flight related data including future atmospheric conditions the specific aircraft will be subjected to when employing control commands generated by the processor and executing the future prescribed flight, and air traffic control information relevant to the future prescribed flight:
• program instructions to generate control histories based on historical performances and to generate corresponding state trajectories for the specific aircraft based on the flight data and to perform model predictive control to predict a future performance of the specific aircraft and adjusting current control input actions to further control the specific aircraft to perform in an optimized manner during the future prescribed flight;
• program instructions to obtain current sample measurements of at least one state or output of the specific aircraft during execution of the future prescribed flight;
• program instructions to perform a control optimization based on the obtained flight data, the current measurements or outputs by a feedback loop, and a mathematical model representing an actual operational performance of the specific aircraft and further providing a predictive indication of a future performance of the specific aircraft in response to a current state or input to the specific aircraft;
• program instructions to determine, based on the control optimization, a control input optimized to minimize a direct operating cost of the specific aircraft for the prescribed flight;
• program instructions to adjust, in response to a consideration of actual operational characteristics of the specific aircraft, the optimized control input;
• program instructions to transmit the adjusted optimized control input to the specific aircraft for use thereby to operate the specific aircraft to execute the prescribed flight to minimize the direct operating cost for a first portion of the prescribed flight;
• and
• program instructions to iteratively repeat, for successive sequential instances in time for a remaining portion of the prescribed flight, the operations of obtaining the flight data, obtaining the current sample measurements or outputs, performing the control optimization, adjusting the optimized control input according to the control optimization performed at each successive sequential instance in time, and transmitting the adjusted optimized control input to the specific aircraft.