Coordinated formation control strategy of the rotating hub-spoke tethered formation system

Panfeng Huang, Yongxin Hu, Yakun Zhao, Jun Ma, Fan Zhang, Zhongjie Meng, Zhengxiong Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hub-spoke tethered formation system (HS-TFS) is attractive in many space applications, such as multi-point measurements, providing flexible frame for solar sail and other membrane or net structures. To utilize the specific advantages of the system, such as reduction of fuel consumption, promotion of the formation stability, the HS-TFS is usually designed as a rotating system. However, the rotating motion will increase the complexity of the formation control of the HS-TFS. In this paper, the formation control of the rotating HS-TFS is investigated. First, an analytical model based on several reasonable assumptions is introduced to describe the dynamics of the rotating HS-TFS. Based on this model, two coordinated formation control strategies are proposed and described in detail, in which the tension forces of the tethers, propulsions of the sub-spacecraft, and the torque of the master-spacecraft are used as control inputs. Then a closed-loop control system is constructed to validate the proposed coordinated formation control strategies. Finally detailed numerical simulations are implemented based on the closed-loop control system. The simulation results show that the proposed coordinated control strategies are capable of assigning the operating time of the torque of the master-spacecraft and improving the efficiency of the formation control of the rotating HS-TFS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)317-330
Number of pages14
JournalProceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume232
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2018

Keywords

  • coordinated control
  • coordinated formation
  • hub-spoke
  • tethered formations system
  • Tethered spacecraft system

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Coordinated formation control strategy of the rotating hub-spoke tethered formation system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this