Autonomous Landing Using Model Prediction via Successive Convexification

Abstract

With the goal of exploring the origin of the Earth, lunar exploration has been attracting much attention. In order to achieve more flexible missions, landing with less position error is required. In addition, space missions always call for severe minimum fuel consumption. In this research, the model predictive control (MPC) is implemented to the guidance and control system for the vertical landing phase of a lunar lander. Moreover, for the purpose of reducing the computational load of MPC, successive convexification (SCvx) is also applied. The results of simulations show high feasibility in terms of trackability and robustness for landing.