Swing Analysis and Control Research of the Space Tethered Combination in the Maneuver Process

Swing usually occurs in the maneuver process of a tethered combination, which is constituted of a platform, a tether and a target (i.e., space debris) for capture. Therefore, a dynamical model of the space tethered combination was established, based on the maneuver of the mission platform in a short time. The conditions for the three swing formations of the tethered combination were obtained according to the analysis of the dynamical model. In order to solve the swing problem, anti-swing control strategies, based on linear feedback control, approximate linearization control and variable structure control, were proposed, respectively. Furthermore, simulation results verified the correctness and effectiveness of the above strategies. To test the validity of the control strategies, a ground experiment setup was built according to the similarity of dynamics. The experimental results show that linear feedback control and approximate linearization control can suppress the in-plane and out-of-plane swing of the combination rapidly.