Semisynchronizing strategy for capturing a high-speed tumbling target

This paper investigates a novel semisynchronizing approach for capturing a high-speed tumbling space target with consideration of disturbances and uncertainties. For saving fuel and reducing the relative angular velocity with respect to the target, the chaser satellite is supposed to rotate around a fixed axis at a uniform speed. In this case, two advantageous alternative strategies are proposed to determine the optimal rotational speed and the orientation of the rotational axis. Meanwhile, an attitude frequency estimation filter and a control scheme for the chaser satellite are derived to guarantee the feasibility of the proposed semisynchronizing approach. Finally, a group of illustrative examples are employed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in reducing the moving speed of the grapple fixture, as well as the feasibility of the attitude frequency estimation and the coupling control methods.