Robust and Optimal Attitude Control Law Design for Spacecraft with Inertia Uncertainties

Abstract

This paper considers the robust and optimal three-axis attitude stabilization of rigid spacecraft with inertia uncertainties. The attitude motion of rigid spacecraft described in terms of either the Cayley-Rodrigues parameters or the Modified Rodrigues parameters is considered. A class of robust nonlinear control laws with relaxed feedback gain structures is proposed for attitude stabilization of rigid spacecraft with inertia uncertainties. Global asymptotic stability of the proposed control laws is shown by using the LaSalle Invariance Principle. The optimality properties of the proposed control laws are also investigated by using the Hamilton-Jacobi theory. A numerical example is given to illustrate the theoretical results presented in this paper.