Robust launch vehicle's generalized dynamic inversion attitude control

Purpose - To design a robust attitude control system for the ascent flight phase of satellite launch vehicles (SLVs). Design/methodology/approach - The autopilot is based on generalized dynamic inversion (GDI). Dynamic constraints are prescribed in the form of differential equations that encapsulate the control objectives, and are generalized inverted using the Moore-Penrose Generalized Inverse (MPGI) based Greville formula to obtain the control law. The MPGI is modified via a dynamic scaling factor for assuring generalized inversion singularity-robust tracking control. An additional sliding mode control (SMC) loop is augmented to robustify the GDI closed-loop system against model uncertainties and external disturbances. Findings - The robust GDI control law allows for two cooperating controllers that act on two orthogonally complement control spaces: one is the particular controller that realizes the dynamic constraints, and the other is the auxiliary controller that is affined in the null control vector, and is used to enforce global closed-loop stability. Practical implications - Orthogonality of the particular and the auxiliary control subspaces ensures noninterference of the two control actions, and thus, it ensures that both actions work toward a unified goal. The robust control loop increases practicality of the GDI control design. Originality/value - The first successful implementation of GDI to the SLV control problem.