Nonlinear Guidance Laws for Anti-tank Guided Missile to Intercept Maneuvering Tank Targets Using Optimal Error Dynamics and Relative Virtual Model

Th is paper introduces a new method for synthesizing guidance laws for anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) to intercept maneuvering tank targets. It utilizes a nonlinear relative model in the two-dimensional horizontal plane and optimal error dynamics (OED) theory. Th e nonlinear relative model simplifies fi es the problem of targeting a moving target into attacking a stationary target, making the guidance law synthesis task easier. Th e selection of OED allows for the design of a guidance command that ensures the zero effort ff ort miss (ZEM) error decreases to zero within a fi nite time, ensuring successful target interception. Th e paper also introduces an exponential decay weighting function of remaining time-to-go to optimize the distribution of command accelerations throughout the guidance process, thereby reducing initial command requirements and converging acceleration commands towards zero at the end time. Th e synthesized guidance laws are derived based on the nonlinear relative model and OED without making any small-angle linearization assumptions, allowing them to address various nonlinear scenarios. Numerical simulations illustrate the proposed guidance law's performance.