Time-Constrained Model Predictive Control for Autonomous Satellite Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking

TL;DR

This paper develops a time-constrained model predictive control method for autonomous satellite docking that ensures successful rendezvous within computational limits, demonstrated through numerical simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel control strategy that explicitly incorporates computational time constraints for space-grade processors in satellite docking operations.

Findings

Successfully achieves docking within time constraints

Demonstrates robustness despite suboptimal energy efficiency

Validated through numerical simulations

Abstract

This paper presents a time-constrained model predictive control strategy for the six degree-of-freedom autonomous rendezvous, proximity, operations and docking problem between a controllable "deputy" satellite and an uncontrolled "chief" satellite. The objective is to achieve a docking configuration defined by both the translational and attitudinal states of the deputy relative to the chief, whose dynamics are respectively governed by both the Clohessy-Wiltshire equations and Euler's second law of motion. The proposed control strategy explicitly addresses computational time constraints that are common to state-of-the-art space vehicles. Thus, a time-constrained model predictive control strategy is implemented on a space-grade processor. Although suboptimal with regards to energy consumption when compared to conventional optimal RPO trajectories, it is empirically demonstrated via numerical simulations that the deputy spacecraft still achieves a successful docking configuration while subject to computational time constraints.