This brief addresses the design of model predictive control algorithms for performing space rendezvous manoeuvres. It consolidates developments within guidance and control algorithms, with the aim of improving the efficiency, safety, and autonomy of these manoeuvres.
The brief presents several applications of model predictive control to rendezvous manoeuvres, including Ankersen zero-order-hold particular solution1, which provides a realistic thrust profile. It offers new approaches for rendezvous manoeuvres in elliptical orbits, formulating obstacle avoidance constraints, passive safety constraints, and robustness techniques. It also compares finite-horizon and variable-horizon formulations for model predictive control in the context of performance and computational complexity.
Predictive Control for Spacecraft Rendezvous is accessible to academics and students new to the topics of orbital rendezvous and model predictive control, but also presents compelling subject matter for researchers and professionals in the aerospace industry.
Introduction.- Model Predictive Control.- Relative Orbital Mechanics.- Rendezvous With Model Predictive Control.- Conclusions and Future Work.
Afonso Botelho completed his master degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2019 at the Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. His thesis was on Predictive Control for Spacecraft Rendezvous, for which he received the Luís Vidigal award, a prestigious prize for the best master thesis of IST on electrical engineering, computer science, or affine courses. Since then, he has been working as a stagiary engineer in the Elecnor group at DEIMOS Space.
