Fault Tolerant Guidance of Under-Actuated Satellite Formation Flying Using Inter-Vehicle Coulomb Force

Abstract

In this study, satellite formation flying guidance in the presence of under actuation using inter-vehicle Coulomb force is investigated. The Coulomb forces are used to stabilize the formation flying mission. For this purpose, the charge of satellites is determined to create appropriate attraction and repulsion and also, to maintain the distance between satellites. Static Coulomb formation of satellites equations including three satellites in triangular form was developed. Furthermore, the charge value of the Coulomb propulsion system required for such formation was obtained. Considering Under actuation of one of the formation satellites, the fault-tolerance approach is proposed for achieving mission goals. Following this approach, in the first step fault-tolerant guidance law is designed. Accordingly, the obtained results show stationary formation. In the next step, tomaintain the formation shape and dimension, a fault-tolerant control law is designed.