Robust Trajectory Tracking Control of Space Manipulators in Extended Task Space

Abstract

This study provides a new class of controllers for freeflying space manipulators subject to unknown undesirable disturbing forces exerted on the end-effector. Based on suitably defined taskspace non-singular terminal sliding manifold and the Lyapunov stability theory, we derive a class of estimated extended transposed Jacobian controllers which seem to be effective in counteracting the unstructured disturbing forces. The numerical computations which are carried out for a space manipulator consisting of a spacecraft propelled by eight thrusters and holonomic manipulator of three revolute kinematic pairs, illustrate the performance of the proposed controller.