Stable adaptive neurocontrollers for spacecraft and space robots

This paper reviews recently developed techniques of adaptive nonlinear control using neural networks, and demonstrates their application to two important practical problems in orbital operations. An adaptive neurocontroller is first developed for spacecraft attitude control applications, and then the same design, slightly modified, is shown to be effective in the control of free-floating orbital manipulators. The algorithms discussed have guaranteed stability and convergence properties, and thus constitute viable alternatives to existing control methodologies. Simulation results are presented demonstrating the performance of each algorithm with representative dynamic models.