Distributed Control for Satellite Cluster Flight Under Different Communication Topologies

Abstract

Cluster flight algorithms enable the operation of multiple satellites within given distance bounds for long periods of time. Synchronizing the states of the satellites in the cluster is important for both cluster establishment and cluster keeping. This paper offers two distributed orbit control laws with fixed-magnitude thrust for satellite cluster flight based on mean-orbital elements. These controllers are capable of synchronizing the convergence of orbital elements among all satellites. Intersatellite communication is represented by weighted digraphs, and the related stability properties of the closed-loop control system are examined. Global asymptotic stability is proven for the first controller using nonsmooth analysis, whereas the second controller is shown to be only locally asymptotically stable. Furthermore, it is proven that chattering in the thrust direction is unavoidable when using fixed-magnitude thrusters and continuous weights. The occurrence of chattering is analyzed with respect to constant weights and time-varying weights. Two approaches are suggested to mitigate chattering: fast-varying weights and thrust modulation. Numerical simulations are performed to validate the analysis.

Provision of traffic grooming for distributed satellite cluster networks

“…Distributed satellite cluster networks (DSCNs) gradually attract human attention and provide a scalable solution to increasing applications, such as ocean navigation, military reconnaissance, and deep‐space exploration 1–4 . The DSC, 5–7 refers to interconnected satellites distributed on the adjacent orbital positions within given distance bounds, such as F6 (Future, Fast, Flexible, Fractionated, Free‐Flying) Program, 8 Techsat‐21, 9 and 3CSat 10 . With the development of advanced transmission technologies, especially for the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and the cooperation scheme of wavelength routing in intersatellite links (ISLs), 11 DSCNs play an important role in the construction of the optical backbone network for space information networks (SINs) 12 .…”

Nodal distance distributions in cluster flight spacecraft network

“…Contrary to formation flight, cluster flight does not impose strict limits on the geometry of the cluster. Hence, in cluster flight, the geometry is loose, and the various nodes keep a bounded distance, typically ranging from 100 m to 100 km, for the entire mission lifetime 3 . But the CFSN requires the modules/nodes to connect with each other wirelessly.…”

Orbital Containment Control Algorithm and Complex Information Topology Design for Large-Scale Cluster of Spacecraft

“…Contrary to spacecraft formation flight, cluster flight does not impose strict limits on the geometry of the cluster, and is hence more suitable for implementation by multiple micro-spacecraft. Typically, the inter-spacecraft distances are kept bounded in cluster flight, ranging from several kilometres to hundreds of kilometres [ 4 ] . Large-scale cluster spacecraft has been deployed by many institutes, such as ANTS [ 5 ] , Breakthrough Star Shot project [6] , Smart Dust [7] and so on.…”