Aero.trajectory.polylineTrajectory

Generate reference signals for polyline flight trajectory

Since R2026a

Syntax

refSignals = Aero.trajectory.polylineTrajectory(Name=Value)

Description

refSignals = Aero.trajectory.polylineTrajectory(Name=Value) generates trajectory reference signals for a polyline flight trajectory. Use name-value arguments to define the search pattern. For more information, see Algorithms.

example

Examples

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Generate Reference Signals for Polyline Trajectory

Open Live Script

This example shows how to generate reference signals for a polyline trajectory.

refSignals = Aero.trajectory.polylineTrajectory(InitialPosition = [0, 0], ...
    Speed = 100,SegmentDistance = 5000,AbsoluteBearing = pi/2, ...
    Altitude = 10000,OutputFormat = 'timetable')

refSignals=2×6 timetable
         timestamps         WaypointIndex    xNorth(m)     yEast(m)    Speed(m/s)    Altitude(m)    Heading(rad)
    ____________________    _____________    __________    ________    __________    ___________    ____________

    26-Feb-2026 14:57:51          1                   0         0         100               0          1.5708   
    26-Feb-2026 14:59:43          2          3.0616e-13      5000         100           10000          1.5708

Add Reference Signals for Polyline Flight Trajectory to Another Trajectory

Open Live Script

This example shows how to add reference signals for a polyline flight trajectory, polylineSignals, to existing reference signals for another trajectory, sectorSignals.

Create reference signals for a sector trajectory.

sectorSignals = Aero.trajectory.sectorTrajectory('Altitude', 20, ...
    'Bearing', pi/2, 'DatumPoint', [-8, 0], ...
    'InitialAltitude', 0, 'Radius', 5, ...
    'OutputFormat', 'timetable', 'InitialHeading', 0)

sectorSignals=9×6 timetable
         timestamps         WaypointIndex    xNorth(m)    yEast(m)    Speed(m/s)    Altitude(m)    Heading(rad)
    ____________________    _____________    _________    ________    __________    ___________    ____________

    26-Feb-2026 14:57:42          1                 0          0          90             0            3.1416   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:42          2                -8          0          90            20            1.5708   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:42          3                -8          5          90            20            5.7596   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          4           -3.6699        2.5          90            20            3.6652   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          5            -12.33       -2.5          90            20            1.5708   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          6            -12.33        2.5          90            20            5.7596   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          7           -3.6699       -2.5          90            20            3.6652   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          8                -8         -5          90            20            1.5708   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          9                -8          0          90            20            1.5708

Add reference signals for a polyline flight trajectory, polylineTrajectory, to sectorSignals.

polylineTrajectory = Aero.trajectory.polylineTrajectory('priorTrajectory',sectorSignals, ...
  'SegmentDistance', 5000, 'AbsoluteBearing', pi/2, ...
  'Altitude', 10000)

polylineTrajectory=10×6 timetable
         timestamps         WaypointIndex    xNorth(m)    yEast(m)    Speed(m/s)    Altitude(m)    Heading(rad)
    ____________________    _____________    _________    ________    __________    ___________    ____________

    26-Feb-2026 14:57:42          1                 0          0          90               0          3.1416   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:42          2                -8          0          90              20          1.5708   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:42          3                -8          5          90              20          5.7596   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          4           -3.6699        2.5          90              20          3.6652   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          5            -12.33       -2.5          90              20          1.5708   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          6            -12.33        2.5          90              20          5.7596   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          7           -3.6699       -2.5          90              20          3.6652   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          8                -8         -5          90              20          1.5708   
    26-Feb-2026 14:57:43          9                -8          0          90              20          1.5708   
    26-Feb-2026 14:59:47         10                -8       5000          90           10000          1.5708

Name-Value Arguments

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Specify optional pairs of arguments as Name1=Value1,...,NameN=ValueN, where Name is the argument name and Value is the corresponding value. Name-value arguments must appear after other arguments, but the order of the pairs does not matter.

Example: InitialPosition = [0,0]

`InitialPosition` — Initial position
`[0,0]` (default) | 1-by-2 vector | 2-by-1 vector

Initial position of trajectory, specified as a 1-by-2 or 2-by-1 vector in the units specified in Units.

Example: InitialPosition = [0,0]

Data Types: double

`Speed` — Speed of trajectory
`10` (default) | finite real double scalar

Speed of trajectory, specified as a finite real double scalar in the units specified in Units.

Example: Speed = 10

Data Types: double

`Altitude` — Altitude of trajectory
`0` (default) | finite real scalar double

Altitude of the vehicle trajectory, specified as a finite real scalar double in the units specified in Units. This value is constant throughout the vehicle path.

Example: Altitude = 10

Data Types: double

`InitialHeading` — Initial heading of trajectory
`0` (default) | finite real double scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

Initial heading of trajectory, specified as a finite real double scalar between 0 and 2*pi, in radians. Specify one each of InitialHeading and FinalHeading.

Example: InitialHeading = pi

Data Types: double

`Referenceosition` — Current position of vehicle
`[0 0]` (default) | 1-by-2 vector | 2-by-1 vector | finite real double

Current position of vehicle, specified as a 1-by-2 or 2-by-1 vector finite real doubles.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Select trajectory type to Polyline.

Data Types: double

`OutputFormat` — Output format
`timeseries` object (default) | `timetable` object

Output format of reference signals data, specified as timeseries or timetable.

Example: OutputFormat = timeseries

`Units` — Input and output units
`Metric (MKS)` (default) | `English (Velocity in ft/s)` | `English (Velocity in kts)`

Input and output units, specified as one of these values:

Units	Position	Altitude	Speed
`Metric (MKS)`	Meters	Meters	Meters per second
`English (Velocity in ft/s)`	Feet	Feet	Feet per second
`English (Velocity in kts)`	Nautical miles	Feet	Knots

Example: Units = 'Metric (MKS)'

Data Types: double

`StartTime` — Initial time of trajectory operation
`datetime('now')` (default) | `datetime` object

Initial time of trajectory operation, specified as a datetime object.

Example: StartTime=datetime('now')

`AbsoluteBearing` — Absolute bearing
`0` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

Absolute bearing, specified as a scalar between 0 and 2*pi, in the units specified in Units. This value is the angle measured clockwise from true north to the direction of travel along the trajectory.

Example: AbsoluteBearing = pi/4

Dependencies

Specify only AbsoluteBearing or RelativeBearing. Do not specify both properties.

Data Types: double

`CoordinatePlane` — Coordinate plane
`Flat` (default) | `Spherical` | `Ellipsoidal`

Coordinate plane of trajectory, specified as Flat, Spherical, or Ellipsoidal.

Example: CoordinatePlane = "Flat"

Data Types: double

`Eccentricity` — Eccentricity
`0.08` (default) | scalar less than `1`

Eccentricity of the trajectory, specified as a scalar less than 1.

Example: Eccentricity=.2

Dependencies

To set Eccentricity, set CoordinatePlane to "Ellipsoidal".

Data Types: double

`InitialAltitude` — Initial altitude of trajectory
0 (default) | scalar

Initial altitude of trajectory, specified as a scalar in the units specified in Units.

Example: InitialAltitude = 10

Data Types: double

`PathSegment` — Path segment
`Constant heading` (default) | `Shortest distance`

Path segment, specified as Constant heading or Shortest distance.

Example: PathSegment = "Shortest distance"

Dependencies

To set this property, set CoordinatePlane to Spherical or Ellipsoidal.

`PriorTrajectory` — Prior trajectory tracking data
`timeseries` object | `timetable` object

Prior trajectory tracking data, specified as a timeseries or timetable object. These objects must contain these fields:

Altitude
Heading
Speed
WaypointIndex
xNorth
yEast
LateralAcceleraion/Turnrate

`RelativeBearing` — Relative bearing
`0` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

Relative bearing, specified as a scalar between 0 and 2*pi, in the units specified in Units. This value is the angle between the current heading (direction of travel) of a vehicle and the direction to the next segment or waypoint along the polyline trajectory, measured with respect to the vehicle current forward direction.

Example: RelativeBearing = pi/4

Dependencies

Specify only AbsoluteBearing or RelativeBearing. Do not specify both properties.

Data Types: double

`SegmentDistance` — Straight line distance
50 (default) | positive scalar

Straight line distance between two consecutive waypoints in a trajectory, specified as a positive scalar in the units specified in Units..

Example: SegmentDistance = 5000

Data Types: double

`SemiMajorAxis` — Equatorial radius
`6378137` (default) | scalar

Equatorial radius, specified as a scalar.

Example: SemiMajorAxis = 6378137

Dependencies

To set this property, set CoordinatePlane to Ellipsoidal.

Data Types: double

`SphereRadius` — Radius of spherical surface
`6378000` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

Radius of spherical surface, specified as a scalar between 0 and 2*pi.

Example: SphereRadius = pi/4

Dependencies

To set this property, set CoordinatePlane to Spherical.

Data Types: double

Output Arguments

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`refSignals` — Trajectory reference signals
`timeseries` `struct` | `timetable` object

Trajectory reference signals, returned as a timeseries struct or timetable object.

Algorithms

Use Aero.trajectory.polylineTrajectory to define the parameters of a polyline trajectory.

Version History

Introduced in R2026a

Aero.trajectory.polylineTrajectory

Syntax

Description

Examples

Generate Reference Signals for Polyline Trajectory

Add Reference Signals for Polyline Flight Trajectory to Another Trajectory

Name-Value Arguments

`InitialPosition` — Initial position
`[0,0]` (default) | 1-by-2 vector | 2-by-1 vector

`Speed` — Speed of trajectory
`10` (default) | finite real double scalar

`Altitude` — Altitude of trajectory
`0` (default) | finite real scalar double

`InitialHeading` — Initial heading of trajectory
`0` (default) | finite real double scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

`Referenceosition` — Current position of vehicle
`[0 0]` (default) | 1-by-2 vector | 2-by-1 vector | finite real double

Dependencies

`OutputFormat` — Output format
`timeseries` object (default) | `timetable` object

`Units` — Input and output units
`Metric (MKS)` (default) | `English (Velocity in ft/s)` | `English (Velocity in kts)`

`StartTime` — Initial time of trajectory operation
`datetime('now')` (default) | `datetime` object

`AbsoluteBearing` — Absolute bearing
`0` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

Dependencies

`CoordinatePlane` — Coordinate plane
`Flat` (default) | `Spherical` | `Ellipsoidal`

`Eccentricity` — Eccentricity
`0.08` (default) | scalar less than `1`

Dependencies

`InitialAltitude` — Initial altitude of trajectory
0 (default) | scalar

`PathSegment` — Path segment
`Constant heading` (default) | `Shortest distance`

Dependencies

`PriorTrajectory` — Prior trajectory tracking data
`timeseries` object | `timetable` object

`RelativeBearing` — Relative bearing
`0` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

Dependencies

`SegmentDistance` — Straight line distance
50 (default) | positive scalar

`SemiMajorAxis` — Equatorial radius
`6378137` (default) | scalar

Dependencies

`SphereRadius` — Radius of spherical surface
`6378000` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

Dependencies

Output Arguments

`refSignals` — Trajectory reference signals
`timeseries` `struct` | `timetable` object

Algorithms

Version History

See Also

Live Editor Tasks

Functions

Aero.trajectory.polylineTrajectory

Syntax

Description

Examples

Generate Reference Signals for Polyline Trajectory

Add Reference Signals for Polyline Flight Trajectory to Another Trajectory

Name-Value Arguments

InitialPosition — Initial position [0,0] (default) | 1-by-2 vector | 2-by-1 vector

Speed — Speed of trajectory 10 (default) | finite real double scalar

Altitude — Altitude of trajectory 0 (default) | finite real scalar double

InitialHeading — Initial heading of trajectory 0 (default) | finite real double scalar between 0 and 2*pi

Referenceosition — Current position of vehicle [0 0] (default) | 1-by-2 vector | 2-by-1 vector | finite real double

Dependencies

OutputFormat — Output format timeseries object (default) | timetable object

Units — Input and output units Metric (MKS) (default) | English (Velocity in ft/s) | English (Velocity in kts)

StartTime — Initial time of trajectory operation datetime('now') (default) | datetime object

AbsoluteBearing — Absolute bearing 0 (default) | scalar between 0 and 2*pi

Dependencies

CoordinatePlane — Coordinate plane Flat (default) | Spherical | Ellipsoidal

Eccentricity — Eccentricity 0.08 (default) | scalar less than 1

Dependencies

InitialAltitude — Initial altitude of trajectory 0 (default) | scalar

PathSegment — Path segment Constant heading (default) | Shortest distance

Dependencies

PriorTrajectory — Prior trajectory tracking data timeseries object | timetable object

RelativeBearing — Relative bearing 0 (default) | scalar between 0 and 2*pi

Dependencies

SegmentDistance — Straight line distance 50 (default) | positive scalar

SemiMajorAxis — Equatorial radius 6378137 (default) | scalar

Dependencies

SphereRadius — Radius of spherical surface 6378000 (default) | scalar between 0 and 2*pi

Dependencies

Output Arguments

refSignals — Trajectory reference signals timeseries struct | timetable object

Algorithms

Version History

See Also

Live Editor Tasks

Functions

`InitialPosition` — Initial position
`[0,0]` (default) | 1-by-2 vector | 2-by-1 vector

`Speed` — Speed of trajectory
`10` (default) | finite real double scalar

`Altitude` — Altitude of trajectory
`0` (default) | finite real scalar double

`InitialHeading` — Initial heading of trajectory
`0` (default) | finite real double scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

`Referenceosition` — Current position of vehicle
`[0 0]` (default) | 1-by-2 vector | 2-by-1 vector | finite real double

`OutputFormat` — Output format
`timeseries` object (default) | `timetable` object

`Units` — Input and output units
`Metric (MKS)` (default) | `English (Velocity in ft/s)` | `English (Velocity in kts)`

`StartTime` — Initial time of trajectory operation
`datetime('now')` (default) | `datetime` object

`AbsoluteBearing` — Absolute bearing
`0` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

`CoordinatePlane` — Coordinate plane
`Flat` (default) | `Spherical` | `Ellipsoidal`

`Eccentricity` — Eccentricity
`0.08` (default) | scalar less than `1`

`InitialAltitude` — Initial altitude of trajectory
0 (default) | scalar

`PathSegment` — Path segment
`Constant heading` (default) | `Shortest distance`

`PriorTrajectory` — Prior trajectory tracking data
`timeseries` object | `timetable` object

`RelativeBearing` — Relative bearing
`0` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

`SegmentDistance` — Straight line distance
50 (default) | positive scalar

`SemiMajorAxis` — Equatorial radius
`6378137` (default) | scalar

`SphereRadius` — Radius of spherical surface
`6378000` (default) | scalar between `0` and `2*pi`

`refSignals` — Trajectory reference signals
`timeseries` `struct` | `timetable` object