Method of spacecraft cluster orbital pursuit-evasion game based on the hierarchical theory structure

In the context of the in-orbit safety and defense of the future spacecrafts, this paper makes the research of the orbital pursuit-evasion dilemma encountered by spacecraft, utilizing the evolutionary task assignment and the differential game theory as its theoretical foundation, and consequently develops a hierarchical game theory model for the pursuit-evasion problem of the spacecraft cluster. The first layer of the hierarchical structure is the task assignment based on intelligent optimization algorithms, the fuel consumption and time cost are taken into account. The second layer of the hierarchical structure is the planning of the pursuit-evasion game based on the differential game theory. In order to solve the saddle point of the differential game issue in spacecraft pursuit-evasion, the solution of the saddle point is transformed to the resolution of a four-dimensional non-linear equation set with a combined solution strategy integrating the evolutionary algorithm and the newton iteration method. Finally, the hierarchical structure of the pursuit-evasion game for the spacecraft cluster is verified by the analytical assessment of simulation instance that three trackers chasing three escapers.