Patent ID: 6341249
Filing Date: 2002-01-22
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
An on-board system for a first body in motion comprising:a closed loop multivariable orbit controller; a closed loop multivariable attitude controller; a first and second receiver that receives positioning data; an orbit converter that converts an orbit control problem into an orbit state-space form; wherein the orbit controller uses the positioning data to determine the body's position in an inertial coordinate system and uses the orbit state-space form to determine if the position of the first body needs to be altered in real time for minimization of at least one of position, position error, velocity and velocity error between the first body and a target; and an attitude converter that converts an attitude control problem into an attitude state-space form; wherein the attitude controller uses the positioning data to determine the body's attitude and uses the attitude state-space form to determine if the position of the first body needs to be altered in real time for minimization of at least one of attitude, attitude angle, attitude angle error, angular velocity and angular velocity error between the first body and the target in the formation.