Novel parafoil guidance with modern multiobjective evolutionary algorithms

Parafoil system proves to be a superior solution for air-drop applications due to the ability to maneuver through wind field and enable a precise, soft landing. Traditional guidance strategies combine geometrical consideration with the approximated solution of nonlinear differential equations. However, with current hardware/software development, guidance by modern multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) without assuming any predefined trajectories like Dubins path or S-turn seems promising. With software that implements parafoil landing dynamics and twenty state-of-the-art MOEAs, performances of a 5-second guidance updating strategy are compared against a naive random search. The computational time, distance error, and align angle with wind direction show good landing accuracy and optimal landing angle relative to the wind in the GNC framework of an autonomous parafoil air-drop system. Modern MOEAs have the potential of offering an effective, robust, and affordable autonomous parafoil guidance solution.