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We propose predefined-time consensus-based cooperative guidance laws for a swarm of interceptors to simultaneously capture a target capable of executing various kinds of motions. Unlike leader-follower cooperative guidance techniques, the swarm of interceptors has no leader and each interceptor executes its own guidance command in a distributive fashion, thus obviating the residency of the mission over a single interceptor. We first design cooperative guidance commands subject to target's mobility, followed by the same when the target is stationary, and also account for interceptors' changing topologies. We further show through rigorous analysis that the proposed cooperative guidance laws guarantee consensus in the interceptors' time-to-go values within a predefined-time. The proposed design allows a feasible time of consensus in time-to-go to be set arbitrarily at will during the design regardless of the interceptors' initial time-to-go values, thereby ensuring a simultaneous target interception. We also demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed design via simulations for interceptors connected over static and dynamic networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes integrated guidance and control design to intercept a target, which may execute various motions, at a pre-specified time of interception. The problem is addressed considering nonlinear engagement kinematics and the interceptor is steered using the combined effects of canard as well as tail configurations (dual-controlled interceptors). Different formulations of time-to-go, without the restrictive assumption of interceptor's small heading angle, have been used in deriving the guidance commands, allowing the proposed strategy to remain effective over a wide range of impact time values. A weighted effort allocation scheme, in canard and tail deflections, has been proposed to generate the required lateral acceleration. The overall design uses sliding mode control owing to its simplicity of design, while a nonlinear finite-time disturbance observer is used to estimate the target's maneuver. Finally, simulations are presented for various target motions, and time-constrained interception with an impaired actuator is also shown, vindicating the efficacy of the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]