An Investigation of Terminal Guidance and Control Techniques for a Robotic Mars Lander
Continuing on previous work, various precision landing control algorithms arc examined with the goal of minimizing the landed distance to a specified location on the Mars surface. This study considers a set of points from parachute handoff to touchdown on the surface. The first scenario considers a reverse gravity turn to a hover condition 500 meters above the surface and then uses lateral thrusting to minimize die range to target. The second scenario examines a guided, lifting parachute followed by a powered gravity turn to the targeted landing site. The third scenario considers thrust vectoring while on the ballistic parachute, followed by a reverse gravity turn to touchdown.