Preferential corridor shaping for satellite proximity maneuvers via Multiple Attractors Potential Field

Abstract Interest in autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations has been growing in recent years. One notable example includes in-orbit servicing and cargo transportation to the International Space Station. Traditional APF often fails in satisfying preferential movement corridors requirements, which may be needed to improve mission safety or achieve mission objectives. For this reason, within the Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire dynamic model, we aim at implementing a novel spacecraft guidance and control strategy, based on Artificial Potential Field, named Multiple Attractors Potential Field, in which fictitious local attractors are introduced to delineate preferential movement corridors. As the main limitation of the Multiple Attractors Potential Field is the definition of the number and positions of the local attractors, the method is well suited for cases in which the initial configuration of the system is known. One such a case, proposed in the paper, is a rendezvous and docking operation with known obstacles. Another one is a fly-around maneuver to inspect a target satellite, where imposing a preferential direction might be needed to satisfy illumination requirements. This investigation is relevant to support autonomous proximity operations in cases of limited computational power availability, in cases in which the initial system configuration and desired maneuvering direction are known in advance.