Predictive Smooth Variable Structure Filter for Attitude Synchronization Estimation During Satellite Formation Flying

• Published in: IEEE transactions on aerospace and electronic systems Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 1375 - 1383
• Main Authors: Lu Cao, Yongqiang Chen, Zhidong Zhang, Hengnian Li, Misra, Arun K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.06.2017; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; attitude estimation; Attitude stability; Computational modeling; Computer simulation; Control systems; Estimation; Flight; Formation flying; Mathematical model; Mathematical models; Noise prediction; Nonlinear systems; Nonlinearity; predictive variable structure filter; Robustness; satellite formation flying; Satellites; Stability analysis; SVSF; Synchronism; Synchronization; UKF; Variable structure control
• ISSN: 0018-9251; 1557-9603
• DOI: 10.1109/TAES.2017.2671118

In this paper, a novel predictive smooth variable structure filter (PSVSF) is presented for attitude synchronization during satellite formation flying (SFF). The strategy is proposed based on variable structure control concept and applies to any nonlinear system with modeling errors. Because the modeling errors in the PSVSF are not restricted to Gaussian noise only, the technique can deal with various kinds of uncertainties, parameter variations, or noises. It also has low computational burden; therefore, it is more general than other nonlinear estimation methods. Sufficient conditions to analyze the stability and characteristics of the PSVSF are presented. Simulations are performed to demonstrate the accuracy, robustness, and stability of the proposed PSVSF for the attitude synchronization estimation of the SFF system.