Inuence of Sensor and Actuator Errors on Impulsive Satellite FormationControl Methods

摘要

This paper investigates how sensor and actuator errors are impacting formation control accuracy and pro-pellant consumption of a two-satellite formation in a Low Earth Orbit. Realistic relative navigation errorsare implemented, based on results from the PRISMA mission, as well as realistic actuator uncertainty andactuator constraints. Two impulsive control methods are investigated. The rst method is based on acontroller that is implemented onboard PRISMA and the second method uses linear programming to ar-rive at a model predictive controller. The control methods are tested in a simulation environment and aresubjected to orbital perturbations and realistic sensor errors and actuator errors. Both control methods areable to maintain the desired relative geometry of a projected circular orbit in the presence of the errors. ThePRISMA control method demonstrates lower propellant consumption, while the model predictive controllershows better control accuracy. The results show that, based on the used scenario, sensor errors dominateboth the formation control accuracy and propellant consumption. The versatility of the model predictivecontroller is demonstrated in a challenging formation control scenario including formation maintenance andformation reconguration tasks.