Multi-phase Spacecraft Proximity Operations Using Model Predictive Control
Abstract
The evolving space environment has created a demand for autonomous spacecraft that can maneuver in complex and sometimes contentious environments. Constraint enforcement, such as an avoidance zone to prevent collision with a target, is a key component of autonomous control to ensure safety and performance requirements are met. Finite-horizon Model Predictive Control (MPC) is a popular control method due to its improved computation time while optimizing performance. Two areas of MPC in need of expansion are time-varying constraints and phase transitions in multi-phase applications. In this work, MPC is employed to track the reference trajectory of a multi-phase satellite inspection mission. During certain phases, conical and spherical constraints are activated to represent a sun vector keep-in-zone (KIZ) and a collision avoidance keep-out-zone (KOZ), respectively. The equations of motion follow the linearized Hill-Clohessey-Wiltshire (HCW) equations. The problem is solved to minimize control effort and tracking error using MPC Tools, a control and estimation tool for dynamic models. Results are compared to the validated results from literature and found to be comparable in costs while lending flexibility to phase design.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 17, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1146495
Entities
People
- Julia C. Bell
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology