Development of Control and Autonomy Algorithms for Docking to Complex Tumbling Satellites

Download or read book Development of Control and Autonomy Algorithms for Docking to Complex Tumbling Satellites written by Amer Fejzić and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: (cont.) The autonomous GN&C architecture with the spline-based path planning algorithm and phase-plane controller is validated with simulations and hardware experiments using the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Satellites (SPHERES) testbed aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Utilizing the unique space environment provided by the ISS, the experiment is the first in-space demonstration of an online path planning algorithm. Both the flight and simulation tests successfully validated the capabilities of the autonomous control system to dock to a complex tumbling satellite. The contributions in this thesis advance and validate a GN&C architecture that builds on a legacy in autonomous docking of spacecraft.