Satellite Formation Flying: Relative Dynamics, Formation Design, Fuel Optimal Maneuvers and Formation Maintenance

This book systematically describes the concepts and principles for multi-satellite relative motion, passive and near passive formation designs, trajectory planning and control for fuel optimal formation maneuvers, and formation flying maintenance control design. As such, it provides a sound foundation for researchers and engineers in this field to develop further theories and pursue their implementations.

Though satellite formation flying is widely considered to be a major advance in space technology, there are few systematic treatments of the topic in the literature. Addressing that gap, the book offers a valuable resource for academics, researchers, postgraduate students and practitioners in the field of satellite science and engineering.

Dr. Danwei Wang obtained his MSc and PhD degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1985 and 1989 respectively. Currently, he is a full-time professor in the school of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and director of the Centre for E-City in Nanyang Technological University. His research domains include dynamics and control with applications, such as satellite control and robotics. Up to now, he has published more than 350 journal and conference papers with over 2500 SCI citations as of Feb 2015. Dr Wang is a senior member of IEEE and has served as general chair, technical program chair and many positions in numerous international academic conferences. Recently, Dr Wang has successfully concluded a few funded research projects on satellite formation flying and attitude control. These research projects have systematically studied the related topics for satellite formation flying.

Dr. Baolin Wu received the B.E and the M.E degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China, in 2003 and 2005 respectively, and the Ph.D. degree on the topic of satellite formation control from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in 2011. From 2011 to 2013, he worked as a research engineer on satellite attitude determination and control system in ST Electronics (Satellite Systems) Pte Ltd, Singapore. Since 2014, He has been with Research Center of Satellite Technology, Haribn Institute of Technology, China, where he is currently an Associate Professor. He was recognized as an outstanding young scholar by Harbin Institute of Technology in 2014. His current research interests are in the area of satellite formation control, trajectory optimization and attitude control.

Dr. Poh Eng Kee rceived his M. Sc (Elec. Eng.: Systems) and PhD (Elec. Eng.: Systems) from the University of Michigan in 1990 and 1993 respectively. Dr. Poh is presently a distinguished member of technical staff (DMTS) cum Laboratory Head (Guidance, Navigation and Control) in DSO, responsible for advancing guidance, navigation and control technologies development for applications in flight vehicles and unmanned platforms. Dr Poh is also an adjunct associate professor with the School of Electrical and Electrical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University.