Sequential Lyapunov Analysis with Applications to Spacecraft Attitude Control

The spacecraft attitude tracking problem is considered in the presence of parameter uncertainties, disturbances and measurement errors. It is assumed that bounds on these quantities are known. A traditional Lyapunov-type analysis for this type of problem leads to ultimate upper-bounds for the tracking errors. However, these ultimate bounds are often very conservative, and therefore of little practical use when it comes to control gain selection. A sequential Lyapunov technique is presented whereby the ultimate bounds are sequentially tightened, resulting in much less conservative ultimate bounds, which are significantly more reflective of the actual steady-state tracking errors. This makes them useful to the control designer for guiding the selection of control gains. Both non-adaptive and adaptive attitude tracking controllers are considered.
Anton de Ruiter received the BE degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Canterbury in 1999, and the MASc and PhD degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Toronto in 2001 and 2005, respectively. Between 2006 and 2008 he was a visiting research fellow at the Canadian Space Agency in Montreal, and an assistant professor in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University from 2009 to 2012. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the department of Aerospace Engineering at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. His research interests are in the area of guidance, navigation and control of aerospace systems.