Explicit model predictive control approach for low-thrust spacecraft proximity operations

Abstract

The critical role of autonomous systems in future space missions has made model predictive control a very attractive control design method. However, the capability of low-power spacecraft processors to handle the real-time computational load that this method of design can generate still needs to be fully established, especially for highly constrained problems. This paper develops a method to improve the computational efficiency of model predictive control when applied to the problem of autonomous rendezvous and proximity maneuvering using low-thrust propulsion. To ensure safe trajectories in this scenario, a long control horizon is required and the problem must be solved at a relatively fast sampling rate. The new design in this paper addresses such requirements by parameterizing the thrust profile using a set of Laguerre functions, which allows consideration of a long control horizon using a limited number of optimization variables. By exploiting this property in combination with multi-parametric programming techniques, an explicit control law design is developed that is suitable for implementation on simple hardware. The performance of this approach is demonstrated on a small spacecraft mission and compared with that of other control techniques.

More information

Identifiers

ORCID for E. Rogers: orcid.org/0000-0003-0179-9398

Catalogue record

Export record