Inverse dynamics particle swarm optimization for spacecraft minimum-time maneuvers with constraints

The problem of spacecraft time-optimal reorientation maneuvers under boundaries and path constraints is solved using the Particle Swarm Optimization technique. Keep-out constraints for an optical sensor are taken into account. A novel method based on the evolution of the kinematics and the successive obtainment of the control law is presented and named as Inverse Dynamics Particle Swarm Optimization. It is established that the computation of the minimum time maneuver with the proposed technique leads to near optimal solutions, which fully satisfy all the boundaries and path constraints.