On Constrained Feedback Control of Spacecraft Orbital Transfer Maneuvers

TL;DR

This paper presents a Lyapunov-based feedback control method for spacecraft orbital transfers that enforces state and control constraints using barrier functions and a reference governor, ensuring safe and reliable maneuvers.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining barrier functions and a reference governor within Lyapunov control to handle constraints during orbital maneuvers.

Findings

Successful simulation of constrained orbital transfer scenarios

Effective enforcement of state and control constraints

Guaranteed convergence to target orbit with combined methods

Abstract

The paper revisits a Lyapunov-based feedback control to implement spacecraft orbital transfer maneuvers. The spacecraft equations of motion in the form of Gauss Variational Equations (GVEs) are used. By shaping the Lyapunov function using barrier functions, we demonstrate that state and control constraints during orbital maneuvers can be enforced. Simulation results from orbital maneuvering scenarios are reported. The synergistic use of the reference governor in conjunction with the barrier functions is proposed to ensure convergence to the target orbit (liveness) while satisfying the imposed constraints.