Event-triggered adaptive control for attitude tracking of spacecraft

Plug-and-play technology is an important direction for future development of spacecraft and how to design controllers with less communication burden and satisfactory performance is of great importance for plug-and-play spacecraft. Considering attitude tracking of such spacecraft with unknown inertial parameters and unknown disturbances, an event-triggered adaptive backstepping controller is designed in this paper. Particularly, a switching threshold strategy is employed to design the event-triggering mechanism. By introducing a new linear time-varying model, a smooth function, an integrable auxiliary signal and a bound estimation approach, the impacts of the network-induced error and the disturbances are effectively compensated for and Zeno phenomenon is successfully avoided. It is shown that all signals of the closed-loop system are globally uniformly bounded and both the attitude tracking error and the angular velocity tracking error converge to zero. Compared with conventional control schemes, the proposed scheme significantly reduces the communication burden while providing stable and accurate response for attitude maneuvers. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.     

Decentralized attitude synchronization tracking control for multiple spacecraft under directed communication topology

This paper studies the attitude synchronization tracking control of spacecraft formation flying with a directed communication topology and presents three different controllers. By introducing a novel error variable associated with rotation matrix, a decentralized attitude synchronization controller, which could obtain almost global asymptotical stability of the closed-loop system, is developed. Then, considering model uncertainties and unknown external disturbances, we propose a robust adaptive attitude synchronization controller by designing adaptive laws to estimate the unknown parameters. After that, the third controller is proposed by extending this method to the case of time-varying communication delays via Lyapunov–Krasovskii analysis. The distinctive feature of this work is to address attitude coordinated control with model uncertainties, unknown disturbances and time-varying delays in a decentralized framework, with a strongly connected directed information flow. It is shown that tracking and synchronization of an arbitrary desired attitude can be achieved when the stability condition is satisfied. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes.     

Composite control method for stabilizing spacecraft attitude in terms of Rodrigues parameters

In this paper, the attitude stabilization problem of a rigid spacecraft described by Rodrigues parameters is investigated via a composite control strategy, which combines a feedback control law designed by a finite time control technique with a feedforward compensator based on a linear disturbance observer (DOB) method. By choosing a suitable coordinate transformation, the spacecraft dynamics can be divided into three second-order subsystems. Each subsystem includes a certain part and an uncertain part. By using the finite time control technique, a continuous finite time controller is designed for the certain part. The uncertain part is considered to be a lumped disturbance, which is estimated by a DOB, and a corresponding feedforward design is then implemented to compensate the disturbance. Simulation results are employed to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Discrete time multiple spacecraft formation flying attitude optimal control in presence of relative state constraints

This paper addresses the challenge of synchronized multiple spacecraft attitude reorientation in presence of pointing and boundary constraints with limited inter-spacecraft communication link. Relative attitude pointing constraint among the fleet of spacecraft has also been modeled and considered during the attitude maneuvers toward the desired states. Formation fling control structure that consists of decentralized path planners based on virtual structure approach joint with discrete time optimal local controller is designed to achieve the mission’s goals. Due to digital computing of spacecraft’s onboard computer, local optimal controller based on discrete time prediction and correction algorithm has been utilized. The time step of local optimal algorithm execution is designed so that the spacecraft track their desired attitudes with appropriate error bound. The convergence of the proposed architecture and stability of local controller’s tracking error within appropriate upper bound are proved. Finally, a numerical simulation of a stereo imaging scenario is presented to verify the performance of the proposed architecture and the effectiveness of the algorithm.     

Robust attitude coordinated control for spacecraft formation with communication delays

In this paper,attitude coordinated tracking control algorithms for multiple spacecraft formation are investigated with consideration of parametric uncertainties,external disturbances,communication delays and actuator saturation.Initially,a sliding mode delay-dependent attitude coordinated controller is proposed under bounded external disturbances.However,neither inertia uncertainty nor actuator constraint has been taken into account.Then,a robust saturated delay dependent attitude coordinated control law is further derived,where uncertainties and external disturbances are handled by Chebyshev neural networks (CNN).In addition,command filter technique is introduced to facilitate the backstepping design procedure,through which actuator saturation problem is solved.Thus the spacecraft in the formation are able to track the reference attitude trajectory even in the presence of time-varying communication delays.Rigorous analysis is presented by using Lyapunov-Krasovskii approach to demonstrate the stability of the closed-loop system under both control algorithms.Finally,the numerical examples are carried out to illustrate the efficiency of the theoretical results.     

Coordinated attitude control for flexible spacecraft formation with actuator configuration misalignment

This paper investigates the coordinated attitude control problem for flexible spacecraft formation with the consideration of actuator configuration misalignment. First, an integral-type sliding mode adaptive control law is designed to compensate the effects of flexible mode, environmental disturbance and actuator installation deviation. The basic idea of the Integral-type Sliding Mode Control (ISMC) is to design a proper sliding manifold so that the sliding mode starts from the initial time instant, and thus the robustness of the system can be guaranteed from the beginning of the process and the reaching phase is eliminated. Then, considering the nominal system of spacecraft formation based on directed topology, an attitude cooperative control strategy is developed for the nominal system with or without communication delay. The proposed control law can guarantee that for each spacecraft in the spacecraft formation, the desired attitude objective can be achieved and the attitude synchronization can be maintained with other spacecraft in the formation. Finally, simulation results are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.     

Attitude synchronization for multiple spacecraft with input constraints

The attitude synchronization problem for multiple spacecraft with input constraints is investigated in this paper. Two distributed control laws are presented and analyzed. First, by intro- ducing bounded function, a distributed asymptotically stable control law is proposed. Such a con- trol scheme can guarantee attitude synchronization and the control inputs of each spacecraft can be a priori bounded regardless of the number of its neighbors. Then, based on graph theory, homoge- neous method, and Lyapunov stability theory, a distributed finite-time control law is designed. Rig- orous proof shows that attitude synchronization of multiple spacecraft can be achieved in finite time, and the control scheme satisfies input saturation requirement. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the oroDosed schemes.     

Adaptive finite-time backstepping control for attitude tracking of spacecraft based on rotation matrix

This paper investigates two finite-time controllers for attitude control of spacecraft based on rotation matrix by an adaptive backstepping method. Rotation matrix can overcome the draw- backs of unwinding which makes a spacecraft perform a large-angle maneuver when a small-angle maneuver in the opposite rotational direction is sufficient to achieve the objective, With the use of adaptive control, the first robust finite-time controller is continuous without a chattering phenom- enon. The second robust finite-time controller can compensate external disturbances with unknown bounds. Theoretical analysis shows that both controllers can make a spacecraft following a time-varying reference attitude signal in finite time and guarantee the stability of the overall closed-loop system. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes.     

Autonomous attitude coordinated control for spacecraft formation with input constraint,model uncertainties,and external disturbances

To synchronize the attitude of a spacecraft formation flying system, three novel autonomous control schemes are proposed to deal with the issue in this paper. The first one is an ideal autonomous attitude coordinated controller, which is applied to address the case with certain models and no disturbance. The second one is a robust adaptive attitude coordinated controller, which aims to tackle the case with external disturbances and model uncertainties. The last one is a filtered robust adaptive attitude coordinated controller, which is used to overcome the case with input con- straint, model uncertainties, and external disturbances. The above three controllers do not need any external tracking signal and only require angular velocity and relative orientation between a spacecraft and its neighbors. Besides, the relative information is represented in the body frame of each spacecraft. The controllers are proved to be able to result in asymptotical stability almost everywhere. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed three approaches are effective for attitude coordination in a spacecraft formation flying system.     

Attitude coordination for spacecraft formation with multiple communication delays

Communication delays are inherently present in information exchange between spacecraft and have an effect on the control performance of spacecraft formation. In this work, attitude coordination control of spacecraft formation is addressed, which is in the presence of multiple communication delays between spacecraft. Virtual system-based approach is utilized in case that a constant reference attitude is available to only a part of the spacecraft. The feedback from the virtual systems to the spacecraft formation is introduced to maintain the formation. Using backstepping control method, input torque of each spacecraft is designed such that the attitude of each spacecraft converges asymptotically to the states of its corresponding virtual system. Furthermore, the backstepping technique and the Lyapunov–Krasovskii method contribute to the control law design when the reference attitude is time-varying and can be obtained by each spacecraft. Finally, effectiveness of the proposed methodology is illustrated by the numerical simulations of a spacecraft formation.     

基于旋转矩阵的预设时间航天器编队姿态协同控制

由多个航天器组成的编队系统对复杂的环境往往具有较高的适应性和容错性,能更高效率地完成单航天器难以完成的任务。因此主要针对多航天器系统的姿态协同控制问题,提出一种基于旋转矩阵的预设时间控制算法。首先,为了避免航天器姿态建模的奇异性和模糊性问题,采用旋转矩阵对航天器的姿态进行统一描述,同时结合有向的通信拓扑对航天器姿态协同控制系统进行建模。其次,为赋予系统可控的收敛速度,提出一种基于滑模的预设时间控制算法。该算法的引入使得航天器编队系统的收敛时间可以在合理的范围内任意给定。此外,为了实现系统对参数摄动和外部干扰的鲁棒性,采用神经网络和自适应算法对不确定性进行在线估计与补偿。最后,通过理论分析和数值仿真验证了所提预设时间控制算法的有效性。     

Data-driven model-free adaptive attitude control of partially constrained combined spacecraft with external disturbances and input saturation

This study presents an improved data-driven Model-Free Adaptive Control(MFAC)strategy for attitude stabilization of a partially constrained combined spacecraft with external disturbances and input saturation. First, a novel dynamic linearization data model for the partially constrained combined spacecraft with external disturbances is established. The generalized disturbances composed of external disturbances and dynamic linearization errors are then reconstructed by a Discrete Extended State Observer(DESO). With the dynamic linearization data model and reconstructed information, a DESO-MFAC strategy for the combined spacecraft is proposed based only on input and output data. Next, the input saturation is overcome by introducing an antiwindup compensator. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed controller when the dynamic properties of the partially constrained combined spacecraft are completely unknown.     

基于浸入与不变理论的航天器姿态跟踪自适应控制

针对惯性参数不确定的航天器姿态跟踪控制问题,基于浸入与不变（I&I）方法设计出了一种新的姿态跟踪控制器。研究结果表明,传统的浸入与不变方法运用到姿态跟踪模型,存在参数回归矩阵不可积进而导致偏微分方程无解析解的问题。针对该问题,提出了一种对回归矩阵改造使其满足可积条件的方法,通过动态放缩技术消除了回归矩阵改造前后的差异对闭环系统稳定性的影响,设计出了一种新的航天器姿态跟踪自适应控制器。通过李雅普诺夫稳定性分析方法证明了所设计的控制器能够保证闭环系统的全局渐近稳定性。相对于已有的基于动态放缩法的浸入与不变控制器,设计了一种全新的缩放因子,使得控制器的执行不需要缩放因子的信息,并且也不需要惯量矩阵的先验信息。最后,仿真对比实验进一步验证了所设计控制器的有效性和优越性。     

H1 output tracking control for flight control systems with time-varying delay

For flight control systems with time-varying delay, an H1 output tracking controller is proposed. The controller is designed for the discrete-time state-space model of general aircraft to reduce the ef...     

柔性航天器振动主动抑制及姿态控制

针对柔性航天器柔性附件振动主动抑制及姿态高精度快速稳定问题,研究了一种输入成形器（IS）-自适应有限时间干扰观测器（FDO）-有限时间积分滑模控制器综合的设计方法。首先,基于柔性模态的频率及阻尼信息,获得能够有效抑制柔性振动的输入成形器形式,并与系统参考输入进行卷积,得到期望参考输入;其次,基于航天器动力学模型,设计一种新型的自适应有限时间干扰观测器,避免了综合干扰上界必须已知的约束,且保证干扰估计误差有限时间收敛至零,实现对干扰及残余振动影响的快速精确估计;最后,基于观测器的估计值,设计多变量有限时间积分滑模控制器,保证对期望参考输入的高精度快速跟踪控制,并进行严格的稳定性证明。仿真结果表明,该综合设计策略能够保证柔性附件振动抑制75%,姿态稳定度达到10^-4数量级。     

Robust fault-tolerant attitude control for satellite with multiple uncertainties and actuator faults

In this paper, the satellite attitude control system subject to parametric perturbations,external disturbances, time-varying input delays, actuator faults and saturation is studied. In order to make the controller architecture simple and practical, the closed-loop system is transformed into a disturbance-free nominal system and an equivalent disturbance firstly. The equivalent disturbance represents all above uncertainties and actuator failures of the original system. Then a robust controller is...     

Finite-time sliding mode attitude control for a reentry vehicle with blended aerodynamic surfaces and a reaction control system

This paper proposes a finite-time robust flight controller, targeting for a reentry vehicle with blended aerodynamic surfaces and a reaction control system(RCS). Firstly, a novel finite-time attitude controller is pointed out with the introduction of a nonsingular finite-time sliding mode manifold. The attitude tracking errors are mathematically proved to converge to zero within finite time which can be estimated. In order to improve the performance, a second-order finite-time sliding mode controller is further developed to effectively alleviate chattering without any deterioration of robustness and accuracy. Moreover, an optimization control allocation algorithm, using linear programming and a pulse-width pulse-frequency(PWPF) modulator, is designed to allocate torque commands for all the aerodynamic surface deflections and on–off switching-states of RCS thrusters.Simulations are provided for the reentry vehicle considering uncertain parameters and external disturbances for practical purposes, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the attitude control system.