UC Santa Cruz

We consider the problem of rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking of an autonomous spacecraft. The problem can be conveniently divided into four phases: 1) rendezvous with angles-only measurements; 2) rendezvous with range measurements; 3) docking phase; and 4) docked phase. Due to the different constraints, available measurements, and tasks to perform on each phase, we study this problem using a hybrid systems approach, in which the system has different modes of operation for which a suitable controller is to be designed. Following this approach, we characterize the family of individual controllers and the required properties they should induce to the closed-loop system to solve the problem within each phase of operation. Furthermore, we propose a supervisor that robustly coordinates the individual controllers so as to provide a solution to the problem. Due to the stringent mission requirements, the solution requires hybrid controllers that induce convergence, invariance, or asymptotic stability properties, which can be designed using recent techniques in the literature of hybrid systems. In addition, we outline specific controller designs that appropriately solve the control problems for individual phases and validate them numerically.1