NONLINEAR PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF SPACECRAFT

A new approach for the control of a spacecraft with large-angle maneuv ers is presented. This new approach is based on a nonlinear predictive control scheme that determines the required torque input so that the predicted responses match the desired trajectories. This is accomplish ed by minimizing the norm-squared local errors between the predicted a nd desired quantities. Formulations that use either attitude and rate tracking or attitude tracking alone are presented. The robustness of t he new controller with respect to large system uncertainties is also d emonstrated. Finally, simulation results that use the new control stra tegy to stabilize the motion of the Microwave Anisotropy Probe spacecr aft are shown.