Improved model predictive control for virtual satellite attitude control

Abstract

For virtual satellites, the main challenge for the attitude determination and control module is to maintain the performance with weak wireless inter-satellite links (ISL). Such weak ISL leads to large data loss, high bit error rate, and long transmission delay during the real-time control process, which beyond the competence of traditional linear control algorithms. In this paper a constrained model predictive controller with learning observer is developed. The simulation results provided performance comparison between MPC and PD controller and showed the advantage of MPC controller for this situation.