Orbital Experiments of Linearly Interpolated Gain Scheduling Attitude Controller Using ETS-VIII Spacecraft

Abstract This paper describes orbital attitude control experiments carried out on the ETS (Engineering Test Satellite)-VIII in June 2009. These experiments aim to develop a technical basis for the orbital control of a class of future large flexible spacecraft. Several novel robust control laws were tested, including a μ-synthesis based control law, a DVDFB (Direct Velocity and Displacement FeedBack) control law and a linearly interpolated gain scheduling law. Among them, this paper focuses on the gain scheduling law. Experimental results of this control law are presented to show its high control performance and lower computational burden compared with other control laws.