Multiple model adaptive control with application to DemoDICE

Designing a controller for a spacecraft is a very delicate procedure. It takes an accurate assessment of the spacecraft in its operating environment as well as in other unforeseen events. The controller design procedure requires heavy effort put into deriving an accurate model of the plant.; To that end, a different approach in controller design method Multiple Model Adaptive Control (MMAC) was developed. MMAC benefits from using multiple set of models to associate with the plant of interest rather than single model approach used in traditional control design method.; Application of MMAC to microsatellite testbed structure DemoDICE is addressed in this paper. A series of numerical study is undertaken to demonstrate the performance of the method. In comparison with the traditional control methods MMAC approach leads to improved system performance for flexible spacecraft at the same time relaxes need for accurate plant modeling.