Adaptive Model Predictive Control and Safety Region Design for Multi-Body Satellite Separation

In order to ensure the safe separation and deployment of multi-body satellites, an adaptive model predictive control algorithm (AMPC) with an adaptive safety region is proposed in this study. First, the dynamic model of multi-body satellite separation is formulated to account for the momentum generated by sub-satellite separation on orbital altitude. Second, an adaptive safety region applicable to sub-satellite separation is designed through geometrical derivation based on the relative E/I vector framework. Finally, the safety region, which possesses clear geometric significance, is integrated into the AMPC framework to be solved as a set of control terminals and fitted by a neural network to reduce computational pressure. In conclusion, comparative simulations show that the proposed algorithm effectively reduces the variation in orbital altitude due to momentum by 78.4% and reduces the mission duration by 19.4%. This algorithm balances the momentum coupling effect and safety constraints during the separation of multi-body satellites and is suitable for unmanned, intelligent, and autonomous spacecraft control systems.