A fuzzy control scheme for deployment of space tethered system with tension constraint

This paper is concerned with fuzzy control for deployment of space tethered system subject to tension constraint. The space tethered system under consideration consists of two satellites connected through a straight, massless, and inextensible tether. Unlike the existing results, in this study a fuzzy model of the underactuated space tethered system is established to mathematically derive a fuzzy control law in analytical form, which can achieve the tether deployment in a fast and stable manner. In the meantime, the asymmetric constraint on tether tension is handled in controller design and stability analysis such that tether tension can be kept within a prescribed positive range during the deployment. Compared with the knowledge-based fuzzy controller design approaches, the proposed fuzzy controller is derived from the fuzzy model based on a rigorous mathematical foundation. The developed fuzzy control technique provides a new solution to the control design of underactuated dynamic systems with complex constraints. Finally, illustrative simulation results are presented to prove the effectiveness of the developed control scheme.