US 12,129,051 B2
Model predictive control for spacecraft formation
Tyson Smith, Logan, UT (US); John Akagi, Logan, UT (US); and Greg Droge, Nibley, UT (US)
Assigned to Utah State Unviersity Space Dynamics Laboratory, North Logan, UT (US)
Filed by Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory, North Logan, UT (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/689,038.
Prior Publication US 2023/0286673 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/24 (2006.01); G05B 13/04 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/242 (2013.01) [G05B 13/042 (2013.01); B64G 1/247 (2023.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
calculating, by use of a processor, a virtual point that represents a plurality of spacecraft orbiting in a spacecraft formation;
calculating an outer polytope boundary and an inner polytope boundary relative to the virtual point for a given spacecraft of the plurality of spacecraft; and
maneuvering the given spacecraft to within the inner polytope boundary using model predictive control (MPC) to minimize fuel consumption.