Decentralized Coordinated Attitude Control of a Formation of Spacecraft

Spacecraft formations offer more powerful and robust space system architectures than single spacecraft systems. Investigations into the dynamics and control of spacecraft formations are vital for the development and design of future successful space missions. The problem of controlling the attitude of a formation of spacecraft is investigated. The spacecraft formation is modelled as a distributed system, where the individual spacecraft's attitude control systems are the local control agents. A decentralized attitude controller utilizing behavior-based control is developed. The global stability of the controller is proven using Lyaponuv stability theory. Convergence of the attitude controller is proven through the use of an invariance argument. The attitude controller's stability and convergence characteristics are investigated further through numeric simulation of the attitude dynamics of the spacecraft formation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace and Ocean Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Aerospace and Ocean Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• VanDyke, Matthew Clark

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Hall, Christopher D.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hovakimyan, Naira
• Schaub, Hanspeter

• spacecraft
• dynamics
• nonlinear
• Control
• decentralized
• coordinated
• Liaponuv
• behavior-based
• attitude
• formation

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06142004-221356

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/10015