Set Theory-Based Spacecraft Dynamics and Control

This book presents a unified set theory-based framework for spacecraft dynamics and control under multi-source uncertainties and data-sparse conditions. First, it develops reduced-order modeling techniques for high-dimensional spacecraft dynamics by introducing interval and convex set-based uncertainty descriptions, enabling efficient model reduction while rigorously quantifying unknown-but-bounded uncertainties without reliance on large-sample statistical assumptions. Second, the book addresses spacecraft attitude determination, attitude dynamics and control problems under uncertainty, establishing interval and convex set-based formulations for attitude dynamics and different control methods, including optimal control, sliding mode control, and periodic control, and systematically integrating non-probabilistic time-dependent reliability analysis into the dynamics and control design process to simultaneously account for performance and safety requirements. Finally, the proposed methodologies are extended to rigid–flexible coupling spacecraft, where attitude motion and structural vibration interact under uncertain conditions, and set theory-based spacecraft dynamics, optimal control and bounded model predictive control strategies are developed to achieve coordinated attitude–vibration suppression with guaranteed reliability and computational efficiency. Overall, the book provides a systematic methodology that links uncertainty dynamics, control synthesis, and reliability-based design optimization, offering both solid theoretical foundations and practical tools for the dynamics and control of advanced spacecraft operating in uncertain and data-limited environments.

Chen Yang is an associate professor at Beihang University. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from Beihang University, Beijing, China, and his main research interests are spacecraft attitude/vibration control, uncertainty-oriented control system, and reliability-based design optimization of control system. He has won Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellowships. He has been awarded "whole career" and "single year" in the World's Top 2% Scientists list published by Stanford University and the Elsevier database. He has published more than 100 papers, including more than 60 SCI papers as first or corresponding author, and 1 monograph as the first author. He has presided over more than 20 projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China, etc.

Yuanqing Xia is an IEEE fellow and received the grant from the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of China and the Cheung Kong Scholars Programme of China. He has been awarded "Highly Cited Chinese Researchers" published by the Elsevier database. He received the Ph.D. degree in control theory and control engineering from Beihang University, Beijing, China, in 2001. He was a research fellow in several academic institutions from 2002 to 2008, including the National University of Singapore and the University of Glamorgan, UK. Since 2004, he has been with the Beijing Institute of Technology, China, where he is currently a full professor.

Yuanqing Xia is an IEEE Fellow and received the grant from the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of China and the Cheung Kong Scholars Programme of China. He has been awarded "Highly Cited Chinese Researchers" published by the Elsevier database. He received the Ph.D. degree in control theory and control engineering from Beihang University, Beijing, China, in 2001. He was a Research Fellow in several academic institutions from 2002 to 2008, including the National University of Singapore and the University of Glamorgan, U.K. Since 2004, he has been with the Beijing Institute of Technology, China, where he is currently a Full Professor. His research interests include flight control, cloud control systems for flight, networked control systems, robust control and signal processing, and active disturbance rejection control. He is the Director of the specialized committee on cloud control and decision of the Chinese Institute of Command and Control (CICC), a member of the 8th Disciplinary Review Group of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, a member of the Big Data Expert Committee of the Chinese Computer Society, and the Vice Chairperson of the Internet of Things Working Committee of the Chinese Institute of Instrumentation. He is a Deputy Editor of the Journal of Beijing Institute of Technology, an Associate Editor of Acta Automatica Sinica, International Journal of Automation and Computing, Gyroscopy and Navigation, and IET Control Theory and Applications.