Spacecraft Relative Motion Control

Spacecraft relative motion control solutions stabilize the spacecraft relative to another spacecraft. This is useful control the approach prior to docking, to circumnavigate while inspect the target object, or to remain in a bounded vicinity about the target. This course covers the basics of nonlinear control theory to apply Lyapunov's direct method to the relative motion control problem. Feedback control strategies using inertial coordinates, differential orbit elements and Hill frame coordinates are studied. Reference relative motions are considered that are either naturally occurring or require a feed-forward control component. After this course, you will be able to... * Develop nonlinear relative motion control strategies * Discuss the stability guarantees of these control solutions * Numerically simulate the relative motion control solutions * Create reference motions that are natural and don't require control effort when the tracking errors have converged * Study the impact of uncertain dynamics and control errors. Please note: this is an advanced course, best suited for working engineers or students with college-level knowledge in mathematics and physics.

• Basics of Nonlinear Control using Lyapunov's Principle
• The basics of nonlinear stability of dynamical systems is reviewed. A range of stability definitions are reviewed. The general methodology to develop feedback controls using Lyapunov's princple is presented.
• Relative Motion Feedback Control
• Develop feedback control strategies to drive a spacecraft towards a desired relative trajectory.