Variable structure control for liquid-filled flexible multi-body spacecraft

The simplified dynamical model is first presented for a open chain multi body system consisting of a liquid filled rigid platform and a number of flexible appendages.Taking Tracking and Data Relay Satellite for example,the controller is designed using variable structure control theory.The mission is to drive the single address antennas to track expected moving law,stabilize the platform synchronously,and restrain the elastic vibrating of the flexible appendages effectively.A numerical example demonstrates the effectiveness of the control law.