Comparison of low-earth-orbit satellite attitude controllers submitted to controllability constraints

A rule-based fuzzy controller is presented and compared with an adaptive multipoint-multioutput linear quadratic regulator controller in a low-Earth-orbit small satellite attitude control system. The present method insures an Earth-pointing satellite making use of a nondepletable and nonmechanical means of control. A realistic simulation environment, using a nonlinear satellite dynamic model with linear attitude estimators plus sensor measurement noise and external disturbance torques, was used to evaluate the different control techniques. (AIAA)