Relative Attitude Control in Satellite Formation Flying with Information Delay

In leader-follower formation flying, using the leader's rate of rotation, the follower calculates the target attitude and rate of rotation, which are necessary to relative attitude control. In the process of information collecting, computing and transmitting, time delay exists that causes information delay. To deal with it, rate and attitude estimators are presented which provide target rate and attitude real time. Then a PID control law for small satellite with reaction wheels is developed based on them. Simulation results show the approach is valid