Constrained reorientation of satellite formations using a quasi-rigid body formulation
Аuthors
*, **McGill University, Montreal, Canada
*e-mail: christopher.blake@mail.mcgill.ca
**e-mail: arun.misra@mail.mcgill.ca
Abstract
The quasi-rigid body formulation views a formation of satellites as a single entity by attaching a coordinate frame to the formation that captures its overall orientation. To begin, this paper reviews the formulation and presents the quasi-rigid body equations of motion. Then, a nonlinear controller for a formation is derived using Lyapunov stability theory. System performance criteria can be met by tuning the proportional and derivative feedback gains. Because the controller is based upon the quasi-rigid body equations of motion, it can be used to regulate orientation errors or track a time-varying trajectory for the attitude of the formation; this is shown through simulation results. Finally, the formulation is used to design two constrained reorientation trajectories for formations in deep space, one of which is a single Euler axis rotation, while the second is motivated by axisymmetric rigid body dynamics. It is shown that the second approach provides as much as 11% fuel savings over the Euler axis rotation.Download