Inverse optimal sliding mode control of spacecraft with coupled translation and attitude dynamics

This paper proposes two robust inverse optimal control schemes for spacecraft with coupled translation and attitude dynamics in the presence of external disturbances. For the first controller, an inverse optimal control law is designed based on Sontag-type formula and the control Lyapunov function. Then a robust inverse optimal position and attitude controller is designed by using a new second-order integral sliding mode control method to combine a sliding mode control with the derived inverse optimal control. The global asymptotic stability of the proposed control law is proved by using the second method of Lyapunov. For the other control law, a nonlinear H_∞ inverse optimal controller for spacecraft position and attitude tracking motion is developed to achieve the design conditions of controller gains that the control law becomes suboptimal H_∞ state feedback control. The ultimate boundedness of system state is proved by using the Lyapunov stability theory. Both developed robust inverse optimal controllers can minimise a performance index and ensure the stability of the closed-loop system and external disturbance attenuation. An example of position and attitude tracking manoeuvres is presented and simulation results are included to show the performance of the proposed controllers.     

Output feedback second order sliding mode control for spacecraft attitude and translation motion

This paper studies an output feedback control problem for spacecraft position and attitude control when uncertainties related to system parameters and external disturbances are present. Firstly, a new finite-time control law is designed using second order sliding mode concepts. In the presence of external disturbances and inertia uncertainties, the new control law provides finite-time convergence and high tracking precision. Secondly, a new sliding-mode-based filter is developed to estimate the first time derivatives of attitude and position in finite time. Instead of the translational and angular velocity variables, the estimated derivative values are used for the controller design. The proposed controller with this filter is an output feedback controller since translational and angular velocity measurements are not required. The closed-loop system under this controller is non-homogeneous and the stability is proven by using concepts of a strong Lyapunov function and Lyapunov stability theory. The trajectories of the closed-loop system can be controlled to converge to a ball centered at the origin that can be made as small as desired. Numerical simulations of position and attitude control of spacecraft are given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed controller and filter.     

Nonsingular terminal sliding mode based finite-time control for spacecraft attitude tracking

This paper studies finite-time attitude tracking control problem of a rigid spacecraft system with external disturbances and inertia uncertainties. Firstly, a new finite-time attitude tracking control law is designed using nonsingular terminal sliding mode concepts. In the absence and presence of external disturbances and inertia uncertainties, this controller can drive the attitude and angular velocity tracking errors to reach zero in finite time. Secondly, a finite-time disturbance observer is introduced to estimate the disturbance, and a composite controller is developed which consists of a feedback control based on nonsingular terminal sliding mode method and compensation term based on finite-time disturbance observer. Finite-time convergence of attitude tracking errors and the stability of the closed-loop system is ensured by the Lyapunov approach. Numerical simulations on attitude control of spacecraft are also given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed controllers.     

Optimal Output Feedback Controllers for Spacecraft Attitude Tracking

This paper investigates the problem of output feedback attitude tracking control of a rigid spacecraft in the presence of external disturbances. Two optimal control laws with a disturbance estimator are developed to deal with this problem. An adapted extended state observer is used to estimate the angular velocity tracking errors and to allow for compensation for the total disturbances. The proposed control can be expressed as the sum of a nonlinear optimal controller and an estimated disturbance. For the optimal controller, the state‐dependent Riccati equation and optimal Lyapunov techniques are employed to solve the infinite‐time nonlinear optimal control problem. The developed controllers can minimize a performance index and ensure the stability of the closed‐loop system and external disturbance attenuation. On the other hand, using the adapted extended state observer, the asymptotic convergence of estimation error dynamics is proven. An example of multiaxial attitude manoeuvres is given and simulation results are included to demonstrate and verify the usefulness of the proposed controllers.