Pseudospectral optimal control

Pseudospectral optimal control is a numerical technique for solving optimal control problems. These problems involve finding the best way to control a dynamic system, for example, calculating the most fuel-efficient trajectory for a spacecraft or determining the fastest way for a robot arm to move. The pseudospectral method transforms the original, continuous problem—which is often too complex to be solved directly—into a simpler set of algebraic equations that can be solved efficiently by a computer.

The method combines pseudospectral (PS) theory with optimal control theory and is notable for its high accuracy with a relatively small number of calculations. It has been used to solve a wide range of problems in military and industrial applications, such as those arising in UAV trajectory generation, missile guidance, control of robotic arms, vibration damping, and lunar guidance.