Optimal Path Planning for UAVs to Reduce Radar Cross Section

Abstract

Parameter optimization technique is applied to planning UAVs(Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) path under artificial enemy radar threats. The ground enemy radar threats are characterized in terms of RCS(Radar Cross Section) parameter which is a measure of exposure to the radar threats. Mathematical model of the RCS parameter is constructed by a simple mathematical function in the three-dimensional space. The RCS model is directly linked to the UAVs attitude angles in generating a desired trajectory by reducing the RCS parameter. The RCS parameter is explicitly included in a performance index for optimization. The resultant UAVs trajectory satisfies geometrical boundary conditions while minimizing a weighted combination of the flight time and the measure of ground radar threat expressed in RCS.