Optimal spacecraft formation establishment and reconfiguration propelled by the geomagnetic Lorentz force

The Lorentz force acting on an electrostatically charged spacecraft as it moves through the planetary magnetic field could be utilized as propellantless electromagnetic propulsion for orbital maneuvering, such as spacecraft formation establishment and formation reconfiguration. By assuming that the Earth’s magnetic field could be modeled as a tilted dipole located at the center of Earth that corotates with Earth, a dynamical model that describes the relative orbital motion of Lorentz spacecraft is developed. Based on the proposed dynamical model, the energy-optimal open-loop trajectories of control inputs, namely, the required specific charges of Lorentz spacecraft, for Lorentz-propelled spacecraft formation establishment or reconfiguration problems with both fixed and free final conditions constraints are derived via Gauss pseudospectral method. The effect of the magnetic dipole tilt angle on the optimal control inputs and the relative transfer trajectories for formation establishment or reconfiguration is also investigated by comparisons with the results derived from a nontilted dipole model. Furthermore, a closed-loop integral sliding mode controller is designed to guarantee the trajectory tracking in the presence of external disturbances and modeling errors. The stability of the closed-loop system is proved by a Lyapunov-based approach. Numerical simulations are presented to verify the validity of the proposed open-loop control methods and demonstrate the performance of the closed-loop controller. Also, the results indicate the dipole tilt angle should be considered when designing control strategies for Lorentz-propelled spacecraft formation establishment or reconfiguration.     

Dynamics and control of spacecraft hovering using the geomagnetic Lorentz force

To achieve hovering, a spacecraft thrusts continuously to induce an equilibrium state at a desired position. Due to the constraints on the quantity of propellant onboard, long-time hovering around low-Earth orbits (LEO) is hardly achievable using traditional chemical propulsion. The Lorentz force, acting on an electrostatically charged spacecraft as it moves through a planetary magnetic field, provides a new propellantless method for orbital maneuvers. This paper investigates the feasibility of using the induced Lorentz force as an auxiliary means of propulsion for spacecraft hovering. Assuming that the Earth’s magnetic field is a dipole that rotates with the Earth, a dynamical model that characterizes the relative motion of Lorentz spacecraft is derived to analyze the required open-loop control acceleration for hovering. Based on this dynamical model, we first present the hovering configurations that could achieve propellantless hovering and the corresponding required specific charge of a Lorentz spacecraft. For other configurations, optimal open-loop control laws that minimize the control energy consumption are designed. Likewise, the optimal trajectories of required specific charge and control acceleration are both presented. The effect of orbital inclination on the expenditure of control energy is also analyzed. Further, we also develop a closed-loop control approach for propellantless hovering. Numerical results prove the validity of proposed control methods for hovering and show that hovering around low-Earth orbits would be achievable if the required specific charge of a Lorentz spacecraft becomes feasible in the future. Typically, hovering radially several kilometers above a target in LEO requires specific charges on the order of 0.1 C/kg.     

Robust optimal sliding mode control for the deployment of Coulomb spacecraft formation flying

Inter-spacecraft electrostatic force (Coulomb force) is desirable for close formation flying control because of its propellant-less and free contaminate characteristics attributed to the propellant exhaust emission. This paper presents robust optimal sliding mode control to deal with the problem of thruster saturation in tracking the formation trajectory for Coulomb spacecraft formation flying. The robust controller design is based on optimal control theory as a linear quadratic system, and it is augmented with an integral sliding mode control technique. The stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed using the second Lyapunov method. The developed controller outperforms the existing ones, because it has a higher degree of fine-tuning to cope with the uncertainty. Numerical simulations are employed to confirm the efficiency of the developed controller.     

可实现定点停泊与轨迹逼近的航天器交会控制

许多空间任务均需进行轨道交会,据任务的不同,对轨道交会的要求也不同,某些情况下需要跟踪星在交会的过程中暂时停泊于某一点,某些情况下对交会过程的视线角与轨迹提出一定的要求.针对这种需求,设计了一种闭环反馈控制方法,可以使跟踪星在设定的某点进行停泊及停泊保持,也可以沿设定的某条轨迹逼近目标,以满足不同任务对交会过程的不同要求.经仿真表明,此方法能够很好的满足任务要求,并具有精度高、能耗低、跟踪速度快的特点.     

Effective Coulomb force modeling for spacecraft in Earth orbit plasmas

Coulomb formation flight is a concept that utilizes electrostatic forces to control the separations of close proximity spacecraft. The Coulomb force between charged bodies is a product of their size, separation, potential and interaction with the local plasma environment. A fast and accurate analytic method of capturing the interaction of a charged body in a plasma is shown. The Debye–Hückel analytic model of the electrostatic field about a charged sphere in a plasma is expanded to analytically compute the forces. This model is fitted to numerical simulations with representative geosynchronous and low Earth orbit (GEO and LEO) plasma environments using an effective Debye length. This effective Debye length, which more accurately captures the charge partial shielding, can be up to 7 times larger at GEO, and as great as 100 times larger at LEO. The force between a sphere and point charge is accurately captured with the effective Debye length, as opposed to the electron Debye length solutions that have errors exceeding 50%. One notable finding is that the effective Debye lengths in LEO plasmas about a charged body are increased from centimeters to meters. This is a promising outcome, as the reduced shielding at increased potentials provides sufficient force levels for operating the electrostatically inflated membrane structures concept at these dense plasma altitudes.     

Multi-Sphere Method for modeling spacecraft electrostatic forces and torques

The use of electrostatic (Coulomb) actuation for formation flying is attractive because non-renewable fuel reserves are not depleted and plume impingement issues are avoided. Prior analytical electrostatic force models used for Coulomb formations assume spherical spacecraft shapes, which include mutual capacitance and induced effects. However, this framework does not capture any orientation-dependent forces or torques on generic spacecraft geometries encountered during very close operations and docking scenarios. The Multi-Sphere Method (MSM) uses a collection of finite spheres to represent a complex shape and analytically approximate the Coulomb interaction with other charged bodies. Finite element analysis software is used as a truth model to determine the optimal sphere locations and radii. The model is robust to varying system parameters such as prescribed voltages and external shape size. Using the MSM, faster-than-realtime electrostatic simulation of six degree of freedom relative spacecraft motion is feasible, which is crucial for the development of robust relative position and orientation control algorithms in local space situational awareness applications. To demonstrate this ability, the rotation of a cylindrical craft in deep space is simulated, while charge control from a neighboring spacecraft is used to de-spin the object. Using a 1 m diameter craft separated by 10 m from a 3 by 1 m cylindrical craft in deep space, a 2 °/s initial rotation rate can be removed from the cylinder within 3 days, using electric potentials up to 30 kV.     

基于鲁棒协同控制方法的多航天器交会问题

提出一种解决多航天器交会问题的协同控制算法。首先应用图论中邻接矩阵及拉普拉斯矩阵的定义及其相关性质,描述了多航天器之间的通信拓扑关系;其次对目标航天器轨道为椭圆形情况下的交会问题进行构建,并设计了相应的协同控制算法;最后利用李雅普诺夫函数证明该系统的稳定性,并且能够保证消耗的能量最优以及最大推力受限。仿真实验表明:提出的方法可以实现多航天器的协同交会,验证了该方法的有效性。     

Neural network-based sliding mode control for atmospheric-actuated spacecraft formation using switching strategy

This paper presents an adaptive neural networks-based control method for spacecraft formation with coupled translational and rotational dynamics using only aerodynamic forces. It is assumed that each spacecraft is equipped with several large flat plates. A coupled orbit-attitude dynamic model is considered based on the specific configuration of atmospheric-based actuators. For this model, a neural network-based adaptive sliding mode controller is implemented, accounting for system uncertainties and external perturbations. To avoid invalidation of the neural networks destroying stability of the system, a switching control strategy is proposed which combines an adaptive neural networks controller dominating in its active region and an adaptive sliding mode controller outside the neural active region. An optimal process is developed to determine the control commands for the plates system. The stability of the closed-loop system is proved by a Lyapunov-based method. Comparative results through numerical simulations illustrate the effectiveness of executing attitude control while maintaining the relative motion, and higher control accuracy can be achieved by using the proposed neural-based switching control scheme than using only adaptive sliding mode controller.     

Compensation of base disturbance using optimal trajectory planning of dual-manipulators in a space robot

This paper presents a trajectory planning algorithm for a space robot with dual-manipulators. Here one manipulator of the space robot captures a target, and another manipulator is free. In this case, this study uses one manipulator as the mission manipulator to capture the target, and another as the balance manipulator aiming at the compensation of the pose disturbance. For this method, a novel trajectory planning algorithm applied to the balance manipulator is presented. The trajectory planning problem is transformed into series of problems of the optimal state solution, and then the iterative algorithms for the trajectory planning are designed. In the iterative algorithms, the bias force on the spacecraft base caused by the balance manipulator is used as the compensation force. Then, to calculate the expected compensation force and torque, a pose control law for the spacecraft base is introduced. The expected compensation force and torque provide equality constraints for optimization problems, which implies that the trajectory planning algorithm compensates for not only the disturbance generated by the manipulator’s motion, but also environmental disturbances. This is because the expected compensation force and torque depend on the pose change of the spacecraft base rather than the type of the disturbance. Numerical simulation was carried out to analyze the proposed trajectory planning method. It was observed that the method greatly reduces the disturbance of Manipulator A on the spacecraft base. These results validated the effectiveness of the proposed method for the trajectory planning to make the spacecraft base disturbance up to minimum.     

High precision dynamic model and control considering J2 perturbation for spacecraft hovering in low orbit

For spacecraft hovering in low orbit, a high precision spacecraft relative dynamics model without any simplification and considering J₂ perturbation is established in this paper. Using the derived model, open-loop control and closed-loop control are proposed respectively. Gauss's variation equations and the coordinate transformation method are combined to deal with the relative J₂ perturbation between the two spacecraft. The sliding mode controller is adopted as the closed-loop controller for spacecraft hovering. To improve the control accuracy, the relative J₂ perturbation is regarded as a known parameter term in the closed-loop controller. The external uncertainty perturbations except J₂ perturbation are estimated by numerical difference method, and the boundary layer method is used to weaken the impact of chattering on the sliding mode controller. The open-loop control of spacecraft hovering with the relative J₂ perturbation and without the relative J₂ perturbation are simulated and compared, and the results prove that the accuracy of open-loop control with relative J₂ perturbation has been significantly improved. Similarly, the simulation of the closed-loop control are presented to validate the effectiveness of the designed sliding mode controller, and the results demonstrate that the designed sliding mode controller including the derived relative J₂ perturbation can guarantee the high accuracy and robustness of spacecraft hovering in long-term mission.     

航天器近距离相对运动的轨迹偏差分析

利用相对可达区(RRD)的概念对航天器在脉冲闭环控制方式下相对运动的轨迹偏差进行了分析。相对可达区是对航天器可能出现位置集合的一种几何描述。当航天器的状态误差服从高斯分布时,相对可达区可表示为随时间变化的误差椭球的集合。考虑航天器飞行过程中存在的不确定性因素,基于闭环控制系统下线性化的相对运动动力学模型,采用协方差分析描述函数法(CADET)对定义航天器误差椭球的协方差矩阵进行了分析,给出了根据协方差矩阵求解相对可达区包络的计算方法。通过将开环和闭环控制系统下的相对可达区包络与1 000次的Monte Carlo仿真结果进行比较,证明了偏差分析方法的适用性与有效性。     

航天器交会飞行设计方法研究

针对半自主飞行追踪星,阐述航天器交会总体设计方法。根据对接点的地理位置范围、共面轨道倾角以及目标星轨道周期与追踪星入轨点地理位置,确定交会飞行时间和两星初始相位差范围。考虑最小轨道机动动力要求与飞行轨迹安全性等因素,并兼顾地面测控条件,设计追踪星远程导引段与相对导航段的轨道机动与飞行轨迹,特别是选择与比较不同的初始轨道、调相轨道与漂移轨道以及保持点停泊时间与最终逼近段飞行时间等交会飞行要素,调整飞行时间、相位差与对接点位置,确定最佳交会飞行方案,完成空间交会任务。     

Optimal guidance and collision avoidance for docking with the rotating target spacecraft

The guidance and control strategy for spacecraft rendezvous and docking are of vital importance, especially for a chaser spacecraft docking with a rotating target spacecraft. Approach guidance for docking maneuver in planar is studied in this paper. Approach maneuver includes two processes: optimal energy approach and the following flying-around approach. Flying-around approach method is presented to maintain a fixed relative distance and attitude for chaser spacecraft docking with target spacecraft. Due to the disadvantage of energy consumption and initial velocity condition, optimal energy guidance is presented and can be used for providing an initial state of flying-around approach process. The analytical expression of optimal energy guidance is obtained based on the Pontryagin minimum principle which can be used in real time. A couple of solar panels on the target spacecraft are considered as obstacles during proximity maneuvers, so secure docking region is discussed. A two-phase optimal guidance method is adopted for collision avoidance with solar panels. Simulation demonstrates that the closed-loop optimal energy guidance satisfies the ending docking constraints, avoids collision with time-varying rotating target, and provides the initial velocity conditions of flying-around approach maneuver. Flying-around approach maneuver can maintain fixed relative position and attitude for docking.     

Constant thrust fuel-optimal control for spacecraft rendezvous

In this paper, constant thrust rendezvous is studied and the optimal rendezvous time is calculated by using continuous genetic algorithm. Firstly, the relative position parameters of the target spacecraft are obtained by using the vision measurement and the target maneuver positions are calculated through the isochronous interpolation method. Then, the results of the calculation of constant thrust rendezvous is founded by processing with multivariate linear regression method. Next, a new switching control law is designed based on the thrust acceleration sequence and the on time of thrusters which can be computed by the time series analysis method. The perturbations and fuel consumptions are addressed during the computation of the on time of thrusters.     

附着小天体的动态面鲁棒制导与控制方法

以精确附着小天体表面的任务为背景,提出一种基于扰动观测器(DOB)和动态面控制的附着小天体的制导与控制方法。根据探测器的初始条件与终端着陆条件规划了标称轨迹,并将引力场建模误差、参数摄动和外部干扰等视为总扰动,结合动态面控制和DOB设计了标称轨迹跟踪控制器。分析总扰动估计误差的渐进收敛性以及闭环标称轨迹跟踪控制系统的稳定性,并确定控制器参数选取条件。数值仿真结果表明,所设计的DOB可以有效地估计并抑制总扰动且闭环标称轨迹跟踪控制系统具有良好的稳定性和控制精度。     

一类禁飞区后方安全撤离轨迹的设计方法研究

对交会对接过程中目标航天器后方的一类安全撤离轨迹进行研究，针对长方形禁飞区提出两类撤离模式，并分析与禁飞区最可能相交的点的特征，通过两个定理给出这两类撤离模式自由漂移轨迹安全的充分必要条件．最后针对实际问题提出撤离方案，给出两组仿真算例，仿真结果验证了撤离方法的正确性和撤离方案的可行性．     

航天器交会中的Lambert问题

应用Lagrange转移时间方程研究空间交会中的Lambert问题,包括经典Lambert问题(飞行弧段不足一圈的椭圆型轨道转移)与多圈Lambert问题(飞行圈数超过一圈的轨道转移),阐述转移轨道的几何特性与转移轨道类型,分析转移时间与转移轨道参数及变轨速度增量之间的关系。对航天器交会中常用的圆轨道之间的双冲量转移,给定转移角与转移时间,阐述最小变轨速度增量所对应的转移圈数与轨道参数的求解方法,提出满足最小变轨速度增量要求的轨道转移的图解法。对给定的初始分离角与交会时间,按最小变轨速度增量要求,确定航天器交会的初始漂移时间、双冲量轨道转移时间与终端停泊时间。     

常推力作用下飞行器固定时间最优交会

研究了在常推力作用下,两个空间飞行器的固定时间最省燃料交会问题。通过对飞行器交会过程中最优推力弧段的研究,给出了关于飞行器的最优推力弧段的几个性质。这些结果为空间飞行器交会对接的工程设计提供了理论依据。     

Long term dynamics and optimal control of nano-satellite deorbit using a short electrodynamic tether

This paper studies the long term dynamics and optimal control of a nano-satellite deorbit by a short electrodynamic tether. The long term deorbit process is discretized into intervals and within each interval a two-phase optimal control law is proposed to achieve libration stability and fast deorbit simultaneously. The first-phase formulates an open-loop fast-deorbit control trajectory by a simplified model that assumes the slow-varying orbital elements of electrodynamic tethered system as constant and ignores perturbation forces other than the electrodynamic force. The second phase tracks the optimal trajectory derived in the first phase by a finite receding horizon control method while considering a full dynamic model of electrodynamic tether system. Both optimal control problems are solved by direct collocation method base on the Hermite–Simpson discretization schemes with coincident nodes. The resulting piecewise nonlinear programing problems in the sequential intervals reduces the problem size and improve the computational efficiency, which enable an on-orbit control application. Numerical results for deorbit control of a short electrodynamic tethered nano-satellite system in both equatorial and highly inclined orbits demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed control method. An optimal balance between the libration stability and a fast deorbit of satellite with minimum control efforts is achieved.     

基于微小卫星合作博弈的失效航天器姿态接管控制

针对多颗微小卫星接管控制失效航天器姿态运动的问题,提出了一种基于多颗微小卫星合作博弈实现对失效航天器姿态接管控制的方法。首先,面向失效航天器姿态接管控制任务需求,设计了各颗微小卫星的局部目标函数,并在考虑多颗微小卫星与失效航天器所形成组合体的动力学约束、微小卫星控制约束的情况下,建立了多颗微小卫星的合作博弈模型。其次,为实现失效航天器对时变期望姿态轨迹的跟踪,在合理设计期望姿态轨迹的基础上,通过构建组合体增广姿态运动方程,将跟踪期望姿态轨迹的要求描述为微小卫星合作博弈控制问题中的一组约束,并建立了多颗微小卫星控制失效航天器跟踪时变轨迹的合作博弈帕累托最优策略的求解框架。最后,对微小卫星合作博弈控制方法的有效性进行仿真验证,结果表明：该方法能够在不需要进行微小卫星控制分配的情况下,通过多颗微小卫星的合作博弈实现对失效航天器的姿态接管控制。与传统方法相比,这种控制方法可避免进行微小卫星之间的控制分配,能够实现微小卫星能量消耗的全局最优且设计简单便于考虑微小卫星的控制约束。