A relayed formation flying control with analogy discussion to traffic system

Abstract

The formation flying control on orbit, especially in the constellation, tries to maintain the relative position to each other measuring the distance between the neighbors. Theoretically, this control scheme easily fails and the distance motion shows divergent resonant behavior. This phenomenon is analogous to that appears in the traffic control. This paper presents how this resonant motion is suppressed and maintained automatically. The method taken here does not assume and does not rely on the measurement of the mutual distance. The system comprises two layers, upper part of which leaves the distance control to each driver, while the stabilizing input is accumulated and relayed to other cars.