US 2026/0070675 A1Published application

Statistical low-thrust indirect maneuver engine

AssigneeBlue Origin Manufacturing, LLC

InventorsChristopher John Sullivan, JR., Daniel John Grebow, David Gardiner, Martin Thomas Ozimek

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Abstract

A trajectory determination engine configured to determine one or more trajectories for an extraterrestrial vehicle. The trajectory determination system is further configured to: obtain a reference trajectory for an extraterrestrial vehicle from an initial state of the extraterrestrial vehicle to a user-specified target; receive a plurality of simulated flights that each represent a computation of a truth trajectory for a corresponding extraterrestrial vehicle in which an error is introduced such that the corresponding extraterrestrial vehicle is off-path from the reference trajectory by the error; select one of the truth trajectories for the extraterrestrial vehicle based on estimated movement of the extraterrestrial vehicle from the initial state towards the user-specified target; obtain a thrust profile that allows the extraterrestrial vehicle to adjust movement towards the user-specified target; and generate an updated truth trajectory for the extraterrestrial vehicle by combining the truth trajectory with the thrust profile.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A terrestrial-based system for adjusting a trajectory of an extraterrestrial vehicle, the terrestrial-based system comprising:

a trajectory determination engine configured to determine one or more trajectories for the extraterrestrial vehicle, the trajectory determination engine comprising a first memory that stores first computer-executable instructions and a first processor in communication with the first memory, wherein the first computer-executable instructions, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to:
obtain a reference trajectory for an extraterrestrial vehicle from an initial state of the extraterrestrial vehicle to a user-specified target;
and
provide the reference trajectory, the initial state, and the user-specified target to a trajectory simulation engine;
and
the trajectory simulation engine in communication with the trajectory determination engine, the trajectory simulation engine comprising a second memory that stores second computer-executable instructions and a second processor in communication with the second memory, wherein the second computer-executable instructions, when executed by the second processor, cause the second processor to simulate a plurality of flights of the extraterrestrial vehicle that each represent a computation of a different truth trajectory in which a different error is introduced such that the extraterrestrial vehicle is off-path from the reference trajectory by the respective error,
wherein the first computer-executable instructions, when executed, further cause the first processor to:
determine a truth trajectory for the extraterrestrial vehicle from the simulated flights that identifies estimated movement of the extraterrestrial vehicle from the initial state towards an end target, wherein the truth trajectory is a trajectory that results in the extraterrestrial vehicle reaching the user-specified target with a likelihood above a target threshold;
in response to the end target being different than the user-specified target, obtain a thrust profile that allows the extraterrestrial vehicle to adjust movement towards the user-specified target;
and
generate an enhanced truth trajectory for the extraterrestrial vehicle by combining the truth trajectory with the thrust profile, wherein the enhanced truth trajectory causes the extraterrestrial vehicle to follow the truth trajectory and implement the thrust profile to reach the user-specified target.

8 more elements

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for adjusting a trajectory of an extraterrestrial vehicle, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:

obtain a reference trajectory for the extraterrestrial vehicle from an initial state of the extraterrestrial vehicle to a user-specified target;
receive a plurality of simulated flights that each represent a computation of a different truth trajectory in which a different error is introduced such that the extraterrestrial vehicle is off-path from the reference trajectory by the respective error;
select one of the truth trajectories for the extraterrestrial vehicle from the simulated flights that identifies estimated movement of the extraterrestrial vehicle from the initial state towards an end target, wherein the truth trajectory is a trajectory that results in the extraterrestrial vehicle reaching the user-specified target with an accuracy above an accuracy threshold;
in response to the end target being different than the user-specified target, obtain a thrust profile that allows the extraterrestrial vehicle to adjust movement towards the user-specified target;
and
generate an enhanced truth trajectory for the extraterrestrial vehicle by combining the truth trajectory with the thrust profile, wherein the enhanced truth trajectory causes the extraterrestrial vehicle to follow the truth trajectory and implements the thrust profile to reach the user-specified target.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.