Density-Based Feedback Control for Earth Orbiting Swarms via Velocity Fields

Eren, Utku; Demirer, Nazlı; Açıkmeşe, Behçet

doi:10.1016/j.ifacol.2018.07.086

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These models provide inherent benefits in terms of scalability and independence from the swarm size. For example, to create shapes in circular orbits, Eren et al 139 devised density feedback controllers that follow velocity fields estimated by a local kernel. This approach effectively decentralizes the method.…”

Section: Swarms In Orbitmentioning

confidence: 99%

An introductory review of swarm technology for spacecraft on‐orbit servicing

Asri,

Zhu

2024

Int Journal of Mech Sys Dyn

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This review paper presents a comprehensive evaluation and forward‐looking perspective on the underexplored topic of servicing target objects using spacecraft swarms. Such targets can be known or unknown, cooperative or uncooperative, and pose significant challenges in modern space operations due to their inherent complexity and unpredictability. Successfully servicing space objects is vital for active debris removal and broader on‐orbit servicing tasks such as satellite maintenance, repair, refueling, orbital assembly, and construction. Significant effort has been invested in the literature to explore the servicing of targets using a single spacecraft. Given its advantages and benefits, this paper expands the discussion to encompass a swarm approach to the problem. This review covers various single‐spacecraft approaches and presents a critical examination of the existing, although limited, body of work dedicated to servicing orbital objects using multiple spacecraft. The focus is also broadened to include some influential studies concerning the characterization, capture, and manipulation of physical objects by general multiagent systems, a subject with significant parallels to the core interest of this manuscript. Furthermore, this article also delves into the realm of simultaneous localization and mapping, highlighting its application within close‐proximity operations in space, especially when dealing with unknown uncooperative targets. Special attention is paid to the benefits that this field can receive from distributed multiagent architectures. Finally, an exploration of the promising field of swarm robotics is presented, with an emphasis on its potential to revolutionize the servicing of orbital target objects. Concurrently, a survey of general research directly engaging swarms in the orbital context is conducted. This review aims to bridge the knowledge gap and stimulate further research in the underexplored domain of servicing space targets with spacecraft swarms.

show abstract

Section: Swarms In Orbitmentioning

confidence: 99%

An introductory review of swarm technology for spacecraft on‐orbit servicing

Asri,

Zhu

2024

Int Journal of Mech Sys Dyn

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The original desired configuration is stationary in the parameter space and appears as a set of discrete points. The details of SRD Transformation refer to Reference [14] [15]. When z l and x l are not 0, the above periodic solution can be converted into a circular orbit:…”

Section: mentioning

confidence: 99%

Probabilistic Collision-free Pattern Control For Large-Scale Spacecraft Swarms Around Circular Orbits

Chen

Wang

Yang

et al. 2022

J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This work considers controlling large-scale spacecraft swarms to achieve complex spatial configuration. A novel distributed guidance algorithm is proposed based on Inhomogeneous Markov Chains, Probabilistic Density Guidance and Voronoi partition (IMC-PDG-Voronoi) algorithms. The physical space is partitioned into multiple bins and the density distribution of the swarm is controlled via a probabilistic approach. Then the modified Voronoi partition method is used to generate a collision-free trajectory for each agent. To apply the probabilistic control algorithm to circular Earth orbit, the periodic solution of the Clohessy-Wiltshire (C-W) equation in configuration space is transformed into a parameter space. Then a convex optimization open-loop controller with minimum fuel consumption in LVLH coordinates is designed to control the swarm to expected positions. Numerical simulations show that the algorithm can effectively guide and control large-scale spacecraft swarms to form complex configurations on circular orbits, with high precision and little cost.

show abstract