Propellantless Close-Range Guidance for Small Satellite Docking Using Simple Electromagnetic Devices

Abstract

In recent years, small satellite docking methods have been proposed for satellite missions involving multiple dockings and separations. Conventional docking systems utilize a robot arm or thrusters for close-range guidance in the final phase of a docking operation. However, because of the limitations of size and mass, these systems cannot be applied to small satellites. Therefore, in this study, we propose a novel guidance system that uses only simple electromagnetic devices, such as electromagnetic coils and permanent magnets. In particular, we propose a guidance method that uses only an electromagnetic force based on relative orbital dynamics. For close-range guidance, electromagnetic impulse force is generated to guide a chaser satellite onto a rendezvous trajectory toward a target satellite from a stationary orbit. To compensate for impulse force error and orbit disturbances, an active orbit controller based on the sliding mode control method is formulated to maintain the reference rendezvous trajectory. Based on our simulation results, we confirm that the proposed method can effectively realize close-range guidance for small satellite docking with relatively smaller power consumption. Thus, our proposed system can be effectively used for small satellites in missions involving multiple dockings.