Low-thrust global optimization (Nuclear electric propulsion)

This plot is produced by the following code:

from PyKEP import *
kep_examples.run_example1(nseg=40)

after the monotonic basin hopping algorithm concludes its computations. Different images are actually produced each time as the algorithm is non-deterministic.

This example demonstrates the use of the Sims-Flanagan module of PyKEP to perform global optimization of a single leg interplanetary trajectory over large launch windows. In particular, it defines a transfer between the Earth and Mars as an NLP global optimization problem (using the open source PyGMO project) and it then attempts to find one solution using the Monotonic Basin Hopping meta-algorithm connected to an SQP local optimization technique (from SciPy). In case the user has a license for SNOPT, the use of this typically result in a performance gain

The code for this example can be studied here

A reference where the methodology is studied more in depth is:

C H Yam, D D Lorenzo, D Izzo: Low-thrust trajectory design as a constrained global optimization problem doi: 10.1177/0954410011401686 Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering August 10, 2011