Hybrid thrusters and reaction wheels strategy for large angle rapid reorientation with high precision

The quaternion-based, high precision, large angle rapid reorientation of rigid spacecraft is the main problem investigated in this study. The operation is accomplished via a hybrid thrusters and reaction wheels strategy where thrusters are engaged in providing a primary maneuver torque in open loop, while reaction wheels provide fine control torque to achieve high precision in closed-loop control. The inaccuracy of thrusters is handled by a variable structure control (VSC). In addition, a signum function is mixed in the switching surface in VSC to produce a maneuver to the reference attitude trajectory in a shortest distance. Detailed proofs and numerical simulation examples are presented to illustrate all the technical aspects of this work.

► We introduce the hybrid thrusters and reaction wheels strategy.
► The inaccuracy of thrusters is addressed by a variable structure control law.
► A new switching surface is used to achieve a shortest distance attitude maneuver.