Fault-tolerant Model Predictive Control for Spacecraft

2025-09-02

AI Summary

Satellite constellations face significant challenges in maintaining trajectory tracking and setpoint stability under multiple concurrent actuator failures—jeopardizing space sustainability. To address this, this paper proposes a Fault-Tolerant Model Predictive Control (FT-MPC) framework. The approach models actuator faults as time-varying constraints and ensures closed-loop asymptotic stability and recursive feasibility via online constrained optimization. Its key innovations include integrated fault awareness, robust constraint handling, and real-time receding-horizon optimization. The method is rigorously validated on the ATMOS testbed and an open-source high-fidelity simulation environment. Results demonstrate that the proposed FT-MPC enables stable navigation of spacecraft to service or collision-avoidance orbits under complex, persistent multi-actuator failure scenarios. It thus significantly enhances autonomous fault resilience, supporting long-term constellation operations and safe end-of-life disposal.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Replanning and Plan Repair
• Intelligent Robots: State Estimation
• Multiagent Systems: Multiagent Planning

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Attacks and countermeasures in recommendation systems
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy

Abstract

Given the cost and critical functions of satellite constellations, ensuring mission longevity and safe decommissioning is essential for space sustainability. This article presents a Model Predictive Control for spacecraft trajectory and setpoint stabilization under multiple actuation failures. The proposed solution allows us to efficiently control the faulty spacecraft enabling safe navigation towards servicing or collision-free trajectories. The proposed scheme ensures closed-loop asymptotic stability and is shown to be recursively feasible. We demonstrate its efficacy through open-source numerical results and realistic experiments using the ATMOS platform.

Problem

• Ensuring mission longevity and safe decommissioning for satellite constellations
• Developing fault-tolerant Model Predictive Control for spacecraft trajectory stabilization
• Enabling safe navigation under multiple actuation failures

Innovation

• Fault-tolerant Model Predictive Control
• Handles multiple actuation failures
• Ensures asymptotic stability feasibility