Optimal formation control for multiple rotation-translation coupled satellites using reinforcement learning

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

In this paper, the model-free formation control problem is addressed for multiple satellites, whose dynamics involves rotation-translation coupling and nonlinearities. A two-step adaptive control strategy is proposed based on the reinforcement learning theory to iteratively solve the optimal formation control problem without knowledge of each satellite dynamics. The resulted controller is composed of an attitude controller to achieve the desired attitude, and a relative position controller to construct the satellite formation. The proposed global closed-loop control system is proven to be asymptotically stable. Simulation results on rotation-translation coupled satellite system confirm the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive optimal formation control strategy. • The model-free formation control problem is addressed for multiple satellites. • The dynamics of each satellite involves rotation-translation coupling and nonlinearities. • Optimal formation control for the real uncertain coupled multi-satellite system can be achieved. • A two-step learning scheme is proposed to address the rotation-translation coupled dynamics. • The accurate dynamical model parameters are not required to be known by the learning method.