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Spacecraft Docking Autopilot (2D)

A PD (proportional–derivative) controller reads a chaser craft's noisy position telemetry and converts the error into fuel-limited RCS thrust, steering it toward a stable dock while a second loop holds the nose prograde.

Physics & Mechanics2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion strips the docking problem down to the control loop that actually drives it: a proportional–derivative controller measures the chaser's position (with adjustable sensor noise) and turns the error into a fuel-limited thrust vector, while a second PD loop keeps the nose pointed prograde. Push the noise slider up or fire a Perturb impulse and watch the same gains that once converged cleanly start to overshoot or run the ship dry before it reaches the port.

⚙ Under the hood

A PD controller reads noisy position telemetry and fires fuel-limited RCS thrust to bring a chaser craft to a stable dock, with a second PD loop holding the nose prograde.

dockingautopilotPD controlrendezvousRCS thrust

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install