Spacecraft attitude control using neuro-fuzzy approximation of the optimal controllers

• A neuro-fuzzy controller was developed for spacecraft attitude control.
• The controller approximates the State-Dependent Riccati Equation controller.
• An optimal feedback controller can be designed through the approximation.
• The controller also mitigates the large computational load.
• The stability and the performance of the controller are analyzed.

In this study, a neuro-fuzzy controller (NFC) was developed for spacecraft attitude control to mitigate large computational load of the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) controller. The NFC was developed by training a neuro-fuzzy network to approximate the SDRE controller. The stability of the NFC was numerically verified using a Lyapunov-based method, and the performance of the controller was analyzed in terms of approximation ability, steady-state error, cost, and execution time. The simulations and test results indicate that the developed NFC efficiently approximates the SDRE controller, with asymptotic stability in a bounded region of angular velocity encompassing the operational range of rapid-attitude maneuvers. In addition, it was shown that an approximated optimal feedback controller can be designed successfully through neuro-fuzzy approximation of the optimal open-loop controller.