Description and simulation of an integrated power and attitude control system concept for space-vehicle application

An Integrated Power and Attitude Control System (IPACS) concept with potential application to a broad class of space missions is discussed. A description is given of the basic concept of combining the onboard energy storage and attitude control functions by storing energy in spinning flywheels which are used to provide control torques. A shuttle-launched Research and Applications Module (RAM) A303B solar-observatory mission having stringent pointing requirements (1.0 arc second) is selected to investigate possible interactions between energy storage and attitude control. A simulation of this spacecraft involving actual laboratory-model control-system hardware is presented. Simulation results are discussed which indicate that the IPACS concept, even in a failure-mode configuration, can readily meet the RAM A303B pointing requirements

A new steering approach for VSCMGs with high precision

AbstractA new variable speed control moment gyro (VSCMG) steering law is proposed in order to achieve higher torque precision. The dynamics of VSCMGs is established, and two work modes are then designed according to command torque: control momentum gyro (CMG)/reaction wheel (RW) hybrid mode for the large torque case and RW single mode for the small. When working in the CMG/RW hybrid mode, the steering law deals with the gimbal dead-zone nonlinearity through compensation by RW sub-mode. This is in contrast to the conventional CMG singularity avoidance and wheel speed equalization, as well as the proof of definitely hyperbolic singular property of the CMG sub-mode. When working in the RW single mode, the motion of gimbals will be locked. Both the transition from CMG/RW hybrid mode to RW single mode and the reverse are studied. During the transition, wheel speed equalization and singularity avoidance of both the CMG and RW sub-modes are considered. A steering law for the RWs with locked gimbals is presented. It is shown by simulations that the VSCMGs with this new steering law could reach a better torque precision than the normal CMGs in the case of both large and small torques

Advancements of In-Flight Mass Moment of Inertia and Structural Deflection Algorithms for Satellite Attitude Simulators

Experimental satellite attitude simulators have been used to test and analyze control algorithms; driving down risk before implementation on operational satellites. Ideally, the dynamic response of a terrestrial-based experimental satellite attitude simulator matches that of an on-orbit satellite. Unfortunately, gravitational disturbance torques and poorly characterized moments of inertia introduce uncertainty into the system dynamics leading to questionable experimental results. This research consists of three distinct, but related contributions to the field of developing robust satellite attitude simulators. First, existing approaches to estimate mass moments and products of inertia are evaluated followed by a proposition and evaluation of a new approach that increases both the accuracy and precision of these estimates using typical on-board satellite sensors. Next, to better simulate the micro-torque environment of space, a new approach to mass balancing satellite attitude simulator is presented, experimentally evaluated, and verified. Finally, we experimentally analyzed a control moment gyroscope singularity avoidance steering law

Skylab mission planning support through the use of a hybrid simulation

The manner in which a hybrid simulation was used in support of Skylab operations in the area of dynamics and control is described. Simulation results were used in the development of acceptable vehicle maneuvers and in the verification of acceptability when the maneuvers were integrated into daily flight plans. The criterion of acceptability was based on vehicle controllability and the minimization of thruster system propellant usage. A simulation of a representative daily flight plan containing three experimental maneuvers is included, along with thruster attitude control system propellant usage tables which show predicted and actual usage for each mission. The inherent characteristics of quick turnaround and flexibility afforded by the hybrid computer proved invaluable in the operations support required throughout the Skylab mission

Design of a Control Moment Gyroscope Attitude Actuation System for the Attitude Control Subsystem Proving Ground

All spacecraft represent a considerable investment of both time and money. To ensure mission success, testing and validation of all vital systems is crucial to the design process. The attitude control subsystem (ACS) is typically tested thoroughly, to include both hardware and control algorithms. Computer simulations offer a simple and relatively cheap method of predicting the performance of the ACS; however, computer simulations cannot provide the assurances necessary to qualify an ACS hardware configuration or control algorithm spaceworthy. For this reason, physical spacecraft simulators must be used to validate ACS dynamics. Previous research showed there is room for significant improvement to the design methodology of lab-rated control moment gyroscopes (CMGs), which can be used as attitude control devices. An improved design methodology was created to streamline the design process and develop best practices. To evaluate the design methodology, a CMG ACS was designed for the Attitude Control Subsystem Proving Ground (ACSPG), and a prototype was tested

Spacecraft nonlinear attitude control with bounded control input

The research in this thesis deals with nonlinear control of spacecraft attitude stabilization and tracking manoeuvres and addresses the issue of control toque saturation on a priori basis. The cascaded structure of spacecraft attitude kinematics and dynamics makes the method of integrator backstepping preferred scheme for the spacecraft nonlinear attitude control. However, the conventional backstepping control design method may result in excessive control torque beyond the saturation bound of the actuators. While remaining within the framework of conventional backstepping control design, the present work proposes the formulation of analytical bounds for the control torque components as functions of the initial attitude and angular velocity errors and the gains involved in the control design procedure. The said analytical bounds have been shown to be useful for tuning the gains in a way that the guaranteed maximum torque upper bound lies within the capability of the actuator and, hence, addressing the issue of control input saturation. Conditions have also been developed as well as the generalization of the said analytical bounds which allow for the tuning of the control gains to guarantee prescribed stability with the additional aim that the control action avoids reaching saturation while anticipating the presence of bounded external disturbance torque and uncertainties in the spacecraft moments of inertia. Moreover, the work has also been extended blending it with the artificial potential function method for achieving autonomous capability of avoiding pointing constraints for the case of spacecraft large angle slew manoeuvres. The idea of undergoing such manoeuvres using control moment gyros to track commanded angular momentum rather than a torque command has also been studied. In this context, a gimbal position command generation algorithm has been proposed for a pyramid-type cluster of four single gimbal control moment gyros. The proposed algorithm not only avoids the saturation of the angular momentum input from the control moment gyro cluster but also exploits its maximum value deliverable by the cluster along the direction of the commanded angular momentum for the major part of the manoeuvre. In this way, it results in rapid spacecraft slew manoeuvres. The ideas proposed in the thesis have also been validated using numerical simulations and compared with results already existing in the literature

Design and validation of an MPC controller for CMG-based testbed

In the last years, Control Moment Gyros (CMGs) are widely used for high-speed attitude control, since they are able to generate larger torque compared to “classical” actuation systems, such as Reaction Wheels . This paper describes the attitude control problem of a spacecraft, using a Model Predictive Control method. The features of the considered linear MPC are: (i) a virtual reference, to guarantee input constraints satisfaction, and (ii) an integrator state as a servo compensator, to reduce the steady-state error. Moreover, the real-time implementability is investigated using an experimental testbed with four CMGs in pyramidal configuration, where the capability of attitude control and the optimization solver for embedded systems are focused on. The effectiveness and the performance of the control system are shown in both simulations and experiments

Optimal Attitude Control of Agile Spacecraft Using Combined Reaction Wheel and Control Moment Gyroscope Arrays

This dissertation explores the benefits of combined control moment gyroscope (CMG) and reaction wheel array (RWA) actuation for agile spacecraft. Agile spacecraft are capable of slewing to multiple targets in minimum time. CMGs provide the largest torque capability of current momentum exchange actuation devices but also introduce singularity events in operation. RWAs produce less torque capability than CMGs but can achieve greater pointing accuracy. In this research, a combined RWA and CMG (RWCMG) system is evaluated using analytical simulations and hardware experiments. A closed-loop control scheme is developed which takes advantage of the strengths of each actuator set.The CMGs perform slews for a representative target field. Borrowing from variable-speed CMG theory, a system of switching between CMG and RWA actuation allows the RWA to assume control of the spacecraft when desired pointing tolerance is met for a given target. During collection, the CMG gimbals may travel along null motion trajectories towardpreferred angles to prepare for the next slew. Preferred gimbal angles are pre-computed off-line using optimization techniques or set based on look-up tables. Logic is developed to ensure CMG gimbal angles travel the shortest path to the preferred values. The proportional-integral-derivative, quaternion feedback, and nonlinear Lyapunov-based controllers are assessed for the RWCMG system. Extended and unscented Kalman filter techniques are explored for improved accuracy in analytical simulation. Results of RWCMG hardware experiments show improvements in slew capability, pointing accuracy, and singularity avoidance compared to traditional CMG-only systems

Rest-to-Rest Slew Maneuver of Three-Axis Rotational Flexible Spacecraft

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.3182/20080706-5-KR-1001.02040This paper presents a slew maneuver control design of three-axis rotational flexible spacecraft. The focus of the work is to investigate the nonlinear effect of the three axis maneuver for a flexible spacecraft when a vibration suppression technique for linear systems such as input shaping is used in the control design. A simple method of slewing three-axis rotational spacecraft using input shaping is proposed and the proposed technique is implemented on an experimental three-axis spacecraft simulator. This paper presents a slew maneuver control design of three-axis rotational flexible spacecraft. The focus of the work is to investigate the nonlinear effect of the three axis maneuver for a flexible spacecraft when a vibration suppression technique for linear systems such as input shaping is used in the control design. A simple method of slewing three-axis rotational spacecraft using input shaping is proposed and the proposed technique is implemented on an experimental three-axis spacecraft simulator. This paper presents a slew maneuver control design of three-axis rotational flexible spacecraft. The focus of the work is to investigate the nonlinear effect of the three axis maneuver for a flexible spacecraft when a vibration suppression technique for linear systems such as input shaping is used in the control design. A simple method of slewing three-axis rotational spacecraft using input shaping is proposed and the proposed technique is implemented on an experimental three-axis spacecraft simulator. This paper presents a slew maneuver control design of three-axis rotational flexible spacecraft. The focus of the work is to investigate the nonlinear effect of the three axis maneuver for a flexible spacecraft when a vibration suppression technique for linear systems such as input shaping is used in the control design. A simple method of slewing three-axis rotational spacecraft using input shaping is proposed and the proposed technique is implemented on an experimental three-axis spacecraft simulator

An Assessment of Integrated Flywheel System Technology

The current state of the technology in flywheel storage systems and ancillary components, the technology in light of future requirements, and technology development needs to rectify these shortfalls were identified. Technology efforts conducted in Europe and in the United States were reviewed. Results of developments in composite material rotors, magnetic suspension systems, motor/generators and electronics, and system dynamics and control were presented. The technology issues for the various disciplines and technology enhancement scenarios are discussed. A summary of the workshop, and conclusions and recommendations are presented