Spacecraft Attitude Synchronization And Formation Keeping Using Line Of Sight Measurements

Abstract This paper considers the problem of attitude synchronization and formation keeping of two spacecrafts, with a leader. Attitudes of spacecrafts are not measured directly, instead control torques are determined from the line-of-sight (LOS) vectors between two spacecrafts, and another set of LOS vectors from a common leader. We provide distributed position and attitude control laws. Attitude control law is proposed to ensure that the two follower spacecrafts reach attitude consensus. A formation keeping position control law is also proposed so that desired distance between two follower spacecrafts and each spacecraft to the leader is achieved. Proposed position control law uses relative velocities and LOS vectors in the respective body frames of the two spacecrafts. The state feedback laws proposed in this work guarantee almost semi-global asymptotic stability of the desired closed-loop equilibrium.

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