Wave-based attitude control of in-orbit spacecraft with large-amplitude slosh

• Published in: Journal of vibration and control 2024-01, Vol.30 (1-2), p.366-376
• Main Authors: Liu, Feng, Yue, Baozeng, Ma, Bole, Feng, Cong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Angular velocity; Axial stress; Completion time; Control theory; Hybrid systems; Maneuvers; Orbital maneuvers; Spacecraft; Spacecraft attitude control; Spacecraft maneuvers
• ISSN: 1077-5463; 1741-2986
• DOI: 10.1177/10775463221147339

This paper aims to reach high-quality attitude control and large-amplitude slosh suppression when a typical liquid-filled spacecraft executes three-axial large-angle maneuvers, by applying a wave-based attitude controller (WBAC). First, the sloshing dynamics is modeled by using a spherical pendulum, whose motion is expressed by splitting its coordinates. Thus, the large-amplitude lateral sloshing and the rotary sloshing as well as the over-all rigid motion of a liquid with respect to the tank in spacecraft can be approximately described. Second, the dynamics equations of system in terms of hybrid coordinate for the liquid-filled spacecraft are derived via the Lagrangian formulation. Third, an improved WBAC for three-axial large-angle maneuvers of in-orbit liquid-filled spacecraft is designed by adding a derivative control law and a gravity-gradient-torque compensation law to a wave-based control law. Simulations of three-axial large-angle maneuver demonstrate good performance of the WBAC in shortening completion time of attitude maneuvering, suppressing the jitter in the angular velocity of spacecraft, and accelerating the large-amplitude slosh suppression, simultaneously. The results indicate the potential applications of the proposed WBAC in the large-angle attitude maneuvering of liquid-filled spacecraft when there exists large-amplitude liquid slosh.