Predefined-Time Attitude Tracking Control of Spacecraft Using Incremental Backstepping Control Approach

In this work, a predefined-time attitude tracking control scheme is developed using the incremental control method. The Taylor series is employed to transform the attitude control system into a discrete-time plant with the control input in an incremental form. A new stable dynamical system with a predefined convergence time is devised for the first time. As a stepping stone, the backstepping control method and the incremental dynamics system are used to obtain the predefined-time attitude incremental controller. Unlike conventional backstepping controllers, it does not require knowing about the system drift in advance. The Lyapunov methodology guarantees that the attitude control system, when applied with the incremental backstepping controller, will remain predefined-time stable regardless of the initial conditions. The efficacy of the suggested control scheme is validated using numerical simulation.