After successfully applying Vectorised High Order Expansions (VHOE) method to an aero-assisted mission and a rendezvous problem, now I am going to design an advanced manoeuvre strategy for a low thrust mission on the basis of VHOE. The strategy will be closed loop and approximately optimal. Moreover, all calculations are performed off-line; in other words, the strategy does not require any online optimisation.
Now, I need a state of the art method for low thrust closed loop manoeuvre strategy design which I can compare the pros and cons of my strategy with respect to it.
My strategy benefits from the following properties:
- it is closed loop and benefits from the states feedback;
- it is approximately optimal;
- the target orbit can be chosen arbitrarily but it must be circular;
- the online calculation burden is very low;
Hi, concerning the design of feedback control laws for low-thrust orbit transfer you can also refer to the work of Anastasios Petropoulos (JPL) that developed the so-called Q-laws. These laws are Lyapunov feedback control laws.
Hi, many thanks Richard Epenoy . I am going to check it. Is that similar to Q-guidance developed by J. H. Laning and R. Battin?
No, I think it's different. Q-guidance is an old technique developed in the 50's for missile guidance those principles are different. In Lyapunov control, you define a Lyapunov function V which is simply a distance between your state x at time t and the target state xf. When computing dV/dt, the control u appears and the goal is to choose u such that dV/dt
A very interesting research program is being conducted by Positron Dynamics. They are looking at microthrusters for cubesats that are powered by antimatter. They use a synthetic isotope that produces positrons (anti electrons) and capture the energy released by the annihilation reaction to power an ion rocket motor. They hope to fly a test model in a few years. See http://www.positrondynamics.com/
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