Decentralized control of satellite clusters under limited communication

Two decentralized control algorithms, each employing a unique information exchange scheme, are considered. One of these algorithms employs a communication paradigm in which control and local state estimate information is exchanged between members of a formation after any one of the members executes a control. The other algorithm requires only that control information be exchanged between members; this is thought to be the least information exchange that can sustain an affine control law. The performance of these algorithms when applied to a satellite formation control problem is evaluated. To this end, the algorithms are applied in the context of a nonlinear satellite cluster simulation, where Earth oblateness effects and measurement uncertainties are taken into account. The cluster is required to achieve a specified formation at a defined point on an elliptic reference orbit. Simulation results are obtained for several different orbits and compared to a baseline case involving a centralized controller design.