Parallel Estimators and Communication in Spacecraft Formations

Authors:	Smith Roy, University of California, United States Hadaegh Fred Y., Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
Topic:	7.5 Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles
Session:	Intelligent Vehicle Control
Keywords:	Formation flying control; Parallel estimation; Separation principle; Communication;

Abstract

This paper investigates the closed-loop dynamics of systemscontrolled via parallel estimators. This structurearises in formation flying problems wheneach spacecraft bases its control action onan internal estimate of the complete formation state. ForLTI systems a separation principle shows thatthe necessary and sufficient conditions for overall systemstability are more stringent than the single controllercase; the controllers' open-loop dynamics necessarily appear inthe closed-loop dynamics. Communication amongst the spacecraftcan be used to specify the complete system dynamics and a framework for integratingthe design of the communication links into the formationflying control design problem is presented.