Performance analysis of beam riding vehicle with motion synchronized laser pulse

In order to present a feasibility of high-altitude flight of an aero-driving-type laser vehicle in a supersonic speed, we have developed a three-dimensional hydrodynamics code coupled with six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) equations of motion. We newly propose an active laser control using genetic algorithm (GA) to obtain a stable flight and demonstrate that the vehicle successfully flies into km-order altitude with the active control. Numerical results shows that keeping the angular offset as small as possible is effective for sustaining the stable flight rather than the lateral offset. Additionally, a concept using arrayed lasers is presented in order to achieve a supersonic flight toward the launch of small satellites. The arrayed 60 lasers and single sub-laser can propel the vehicle into a supersonic speed with the optimized beaming strategy in which the incident positions of these lasers are controlled within 2 m around the starting point on the ground.