The robust adaptive attitude control of a certain satellite

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the attitude control problem of a certain and big flexible satellite with unmodeled dynamics and unknown bounded disturbances and control input saturation; and to present a design method of robust adaptive controllers (RACs).Design/methodology/approachFirst, using the Lyapunov stability theory, it is shown that the proposed adaptive controller can guarantee the stability of the nonlinear system. Then, the parameters regulation method of the RAC is introduced. Finally, an RAC is designed for the object satellite model consisted of all the error‐source models.FindingsThe simulation results are compared with other results that are derived by using the typical PID controller. It is proved that the designed RAC has some properties of quickly response, high steady‐state precision and strong robustness.Originality/valueThe paper is of value in presenting a design method of RACs aiming at the object satellite with uncertainties and control input saturation.