PSOPT optimal control software

PSOPT is an open-source optimal control software package that uses direct collocation methods, including pseudospectral and local discretizations. As PSOPT is implemented in C++ using state-of-the-art numerical and symbolic libraries, and therefore it is very fast.

Pseudospectral methods solve optimal control problems by approximating the time-dependent variables using global polynomials, such as Legendre or Chebyshev functions.

Local discretization methods approximate the time-dependent functions using local splines, and can be seen as implementations of implicit Runge-Kutta integrators.

With both global and local methods, differential equations, continuous constraints, and integrals associated with the problem are discretized over a grid of nodes. Sparse nonlinear programming is then used to find local optimal solutions.


PSOPT is used by researchers, engineers and scientists in universities, aerospace agencies, companies and other organisations across the world. Application areas include, but are not limited to:


  • Space engineering

  • Aeronautics

  • Biomechanics

  • Biosciences

  • Robotics and autonomous systems

  • Pharmacology

  • Automotive engineering

  • Electrical engineering

  • Transport.