Multivariable supertwisting fixed‐time approach for RLV re‐entry attitude control.

Summary: The attitude control problem of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) is investigated based on multivariable supertwisting fixed‐time comprehensive control strategy. A novel multivariable supertwisting fixed‐time approach, which can guarantee that the states converge to zero within a fixed time, is proposed. According to the multiple time scale principle, the RLV attitude control system is divided into attitude angle subsystem and attitude angle rate subsystem. Based on multivariable supertwisting fixed‐time approach, comprehensive design of fixed‐time disturbance observer and controller is proposed to ensure that the attitude angle tracking error converges to zero within a fixed time. The features of the proposed control scheme contain that the settling time is independent of initial conditions and it has the better property of chattering reduction. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed method is verified through numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]