Fault-Tolerant Neuro-Fuzzy Approach for Orbital Transfer Control of Satellites Under Hall-Effect Actuator Faults

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Tabriz
2 faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tabriz
3 Space Trust research Institute
4 space Trust research Institute
Abstract
Orbital transfer operations, especially in low Earth orbits, are crucial for the success of space missions. These maneuvers are key in precisely positioning satellites, conducting scientific missions, and supporting communication and remote sensing applications. Electric thrusters, particularly Hall-effect thrusters, are ideal candidates for these missions due to their high efficiency and optimized fuel consumption. However, potential issues, such as plasma instabilities or reduced thrust performance, pose significant challenges that can affect accuracy and mission functionality. This study designs a fault-tolerant neuro-fuzzy controller to manage orbital transfer operations in the presence of thruster malfunctions. The fuzzy logic rules of this system are optimized and evaluated using neural networks, and its performance is evaluated under various environmental disturbances, such as gravitational forces and solar radiation. The results indicate that the proposed controller effectively compensates for thruster faults and ensures high precision and stability in orbital transfer operations. This innovative approach significantly improves the reliability and efficiency of space missions in unpredictable conditions.
Keywords
Subjects

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Volume 6, Issue 1
September 2026
Pages 91-102

  • Receive Date 15 May 2025
  • Revise Date 14 October 2025
  • Accept Date 22 December 2025