Attitude tracking control for spacecraft formation with time-varying delays and switching topology

This paper investigates attitude dynamic tracking control for spacecraft formation in the presence of unmeasurable velocity information with time-varying delays and switching topology. Based on an extended state observer, a nonlinear attitude tracking control approach is developed for spacecraft attitude model formulated by Euler-Lagrangian equations. The attitude tracking controller allows for external disturbances and absence of angular velocity information. Both auto-stable region techniques and a Lyapunov function approach are developed to prove ultimately bounded tracking. Simulation results demonstrate effectiveness of the nonlinear control techniques proposed in this paper.