Energy-optimal reconfiguration of satellite formation flying in the presence of uncertainties

In this study, a two-step control methodology is developed for energy-optimal reconfiguration of satellites in formation in the presence of uncertainties or external disturbances. First, based on a linear deterministic system model, an optimal control law is analytically determined such that a satellite maneuvers from an initial state to a final state relative to another satellite. The structure of this optimal solution is predetermined and simply given by a linear combination of the fundamental matrix solutions associated with the original equations of relative motion. Only the coefficients are to be determined to satisfy given initial and final conditions. In the second step, an uncertain nonlinear formation system is considered and a robust adaptive controller is designed to compensate for the effects of uncertainties or disturbances that the formation system may encounter. Although the control strategy is inspired by sliding mode control, it produces smooth control signals, thereby avoiding chattering. Also, an adaptation law is added such that the uncertainty or disturbance effects are effectively and quickly eliminated without a priori information about them. The combination of these two controllers guarantees that the satellite accurately tracks the optimal path in the unknown environment. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed two-step control methodology, in which a satellite formation is optimally reconfigured under unknown environmental disturbances.