Spacecraft Attitude Analytical Predictive Control Based on Sequential Action Control

In order to control the attitude of rigid spacecraft, an analytical predictive controller based on sequential action control is proposed, which has the advantages of avoiding computational overhead required for nonlinear two-point boundary value problems and avoiding of easily falling into local minima. Also, control input as control sequence is easy to implement. First, modified Rodrigues parameters are used to describe the attitude of spacecraft, and then the second-order nonlinear attitude error dynamics are deduced. Second, an analytical predictive stability controller considering the control constraints is designed. By sequencing individual optimal actions which obtained from the open-loop prediction in receding horizon, the controller provides control response to a state that obeys max-min constraints without specialized solvers or computational overhead. Finally, simulation results show that, while the online attitude stability control is completed, the controller can meet the limited requirements and is robust to the external disturbances and model mismatch.