A safe route planning method for aircraft carriers based on improved Dijkstra algorithm

Abstract

A novel method for safe route planning has been developed to enhance the safety of aircraft carrier navigation and carrier-based aircraft landings. This method considers critical factors such as water depth, islands, wind, and wave conditions that affect carrier navigation safety. The adaptability of carrier-based aircraft landings to dynamic marine environments has been systematically analyzed. Then a framework has been proposed for detecting suitable landing areas for carrier-based aircraft. A dynamic ocean environmental field was constructed to support route planning by integrating numerical ocean models and reanalysis data. An improved Dijkstra algorithm was employed to generate safe navigation routes, further refined using Bézier curve smoothing techniques. The proposed method was validated through simulations of an aircraft carrier’s route planning task in the northwest Pacific during a typhoon event. The results demonstrate that the method ensures safe navigation for the aircraft carrier while meeting the operational requirements for carrier-based aircraft landings. These findings provide valuable support for enhancing the safety and reliability of aircraft carrier operations.