Simultaneous Vehicle and Trajectory Design using Convex Optimization

Convex optimization is used to solve the simultaneous vehicle and trajectory optimization problem. The objective of this work is to develop a method that allows the influence of trajectory design to be taken into account in the conceptual design stage. The vehicle and trajectory optimization problems can be solved individually using convex optimization through the use of geometric programming and successive convexification techniques respectively. These formulations allow the problem to be solved very quickly while maintaining similar fidelity to comparable methods. Three different architectures that combine these formulations into one single optimization process are formulated, and two are implemented and evaluated for a sounding rocket design problem. The methodology proves successful in designing the sounding rocket while taking into account the optimal trajectory. The results are analyzed and discussed, and future improvements to the methodology are discussed.