Distributed six degree-of-freedom spacecraft formation control with possible switching topology

This work studies distributed six degree-of-freedom spacecraft formation control with possible switching topology. By rearranging the combined translational and rotational dynamics into a unified Euler-Lagrange formulation, the developed controllers can be applied directly to maintain formation as well as desired relative attitudes. Based on a novel adaptive control architecture, distributed controllers are developed, which allow for parameter uncertainties and unknown external disturbances. By using the Lyapunov theory and a non-linear switching system theory, it is proved that arbitrary desired formation and relative attitudes among spacecrafts can be obtained with either fixed or switching communication topology. Simulations are provided that demonstrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.