Successive Backward Sweep Method for Orbit Transfer Augmented with Homotopy Algorithm

Abstract

The homotopy algorithm provides a robust method for determining optimal control, in some cases the global minimum solution, as a continuation parameter is varied gradually to regulate the contributions of the nonlinear terms. In this paper, the Successive Backward Sweep (SBS) method, which is insensitive to initial guess, augmented with a homotopy algorithm is suggested. This approach is effective for highly nonlinear problems such as low-thrust trajectory optimization. Often, these highly nonlinear problems have multiple local minima. In this case, the SBS-homotopy method enables one to steadily seek a global minimum.