Optimization of Collision Avoidance Maneuvers Using Analytical Gradient Method

What is it about?

When computing maneuvers to mitigate the risk of a collision, it is necessary to find the optimal maneuver paramters to reduce the fuel consumption and the duration of the maneuver. This optimal maneuver consists of a specific thrust direction and thrust magnitude. Especially when only low-thrust propulsion systems are available, the optimization of these parameters is difficult. This article describes a simplified method to optimize collision avoidance maneuvers. The method only relies on analytical equations. Hence, the computational burden is reduced drastically when comparing it with other methods. In addition, the implementation and usage of this new method is straightforward.

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