Fixed-Time Maneuver Control of Spacecraft Autonomous Rendezvous With a Free-Tumbling Target

This paper considers the fixed-time translational operation control issue for the spacecraft rendezvous task with a free-tumbling target. The translation dynamics model of the rendezvous mission under actuator misalignments is first established in the line-of-sight coordinate frame. Then, a novel time-varying sliding mode surface is constructed and a control scheme with the sliding manifold is proposed to achieve the fixed-time convergence of relative parameters' tracking errors. It is interesting that the preceding convergence time can be altered explicitly according to the specific rendezvous requirements. Meanwhile, a modified updating strategy is developed to ensure system's fixed-time convergence property in the presence of lumped uncertainties (external disturbance and actuator misalignments). The associated stability proof is constructive and accomplished by the development of a Lyapunov function candidate. Finally, numerical simulations on rendezvous missions are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and the superiorities of the designed fixed-time control scheme.