Adaptive double-saturated control for hovering over an asteroid

Hovering over an irregular-shaped asteroid is particularly challenging due to the large gravitational uncertainties and various external disturbances. An adaptive control scheme considering commanded acceleration and its change-rate saturation for hovering is developed in this paper. Taking full advantage of terminal sliding-mode control theory, first, we convert the double-saturated control problem to a new equivalent system by introducing a special bounded function, in which just control input saturation needs to be considered. Then, a continuous finite-time saturated controller is designed for the new system with the assistance of an constructed auxiliary subsystem. Additionally, an adaptive law is devised for the controller to avoid the requirement of the unknown upper bounds of the disturbances, rendering the control scheme especially suitable to asteroid hovering missions. The finite-time stability of the whole closed-loop system is proved via Lyapunov analysis. Numerical simulation studies are carried out, and the results demonstrate the design features and the desired performance.     

Solar-photon sail hovering orbits about single and binary asteroids

Solar-photon sails can be useful for missions towards and about asteroids. Indeed, for the interplanetary transfer phase, missions to asteroids often require a large variation in inclination and solar-photon sails perform very well for such high energy missions. In the same way, solar-photon sails are also expected to perform well in the phase about the asteroid. This paper studies single and binary asteroids’ hovering regions by using a sailcraft. In order to consider a sailcraft with its own mass and shape, the mutual polyhedral method (usually used to study asteroid dynamics) is used; therefore, the sailcraft is designed by means of tetrahedra. The procedure to obtain the hovering regions about a single asteroid is presented and an accurate analysis of the control variables is carried out. Moreover, control torques required to maintain hovering orbits are obtained by considering the gravitational torques acting on the sailcraft due to the asteroid. In the end, the theory for hovering orbits is extended to binary-asteroid systems and applied to the binary system 1999 KW4.     

小行星附近制导与控制研究综述

由于小行星具有引力场不规则、物理参数不确定性大、表面逃逸速度小等因素,使得小行星附近制导和控制极具挑战性。回顾了小行星探测任务的历史、现状和意义;针对小行星附近制导与控制研究的基础即小行星附近动力学,分析了研究现状;针对悬停、绕飞、转移、着陆等任务形式,详细介绍了轨道制导和控制方法方面的热点问题和研究现状;基于研究现状,列举了部分未来可进一步研究的方向和问题。     

双星系统L1点悬停探测控制器设计与仿真

双小行星系统探测具有重要的科学意义,受其复杂动力学环境影响,探测任务极具挑战。利用球谐函数法对双星系统进行引力场建模,求解双星系统平动点,并选取其内部共线平动点L_1点作为双星系统悬停探测目标位置。采用航天探测实际任务中常用的脉冲推力式发动机,设计了一种原理简单、便于工程实现的常值切换bang-bang控制器。以69230Hermes双星系统为例,将Hermes近似为双椭球系统,仿真分析航天器在Hermes双星系统L_1点悬停飞行的控制效果,验证所提控制策略有效性。     

基于决策树的空间拦截器姿态控制

拦截器的发动机为带脉冲型发动机,从而限定了作动器的输出集.对于该拦截器的姿态控制,提出了基于决策树的控制方法.它是通过搜索决策树代价最小的路径做出控制决策,该控制思想非常类似棋手博弈的思想.提出的剪枝方案降低了决策树的计算复杂度.通过仿真实验说明:基于决策树的控制具有一定的智能;不同剪枝方案产生不同的控制效果;该方法较好地解决了输入受到约束、非线性和耦合的多输入多输出控制问题,并且在满足控制精度前提下可减少发动机切换次数和燃料消耗.      

Obstacle avoidance handling and mixed integer predictive control for space robots

This paper presents a novel obstacle avoidance constraint and a mixed integer predictive control (MIPC) method for space robots avoiding obstacles and satisfying physical limits during performing tasks. Firstly, a novel kind of obstacle avoidance constraint of space robots, which needs the assumption that the manipulator links and the obstacles can be represented by convex bodies, is proposed by limiting the relative velocity between two closest points which are on the manipulator and the obstacle, respectively. Furthermore, the logical variables are introduced into the obstacle avoidance constraint, which have realized the constraint form is automatically changed to satisfy different obstacle avoidance requirements in different distance intervals between the space robot and the obstacle. Afterwards, the obstacle avoidance constraint and other system physical limits, such as joint angle ranges, the amplitude boundaries of joint velocities and joint torques, are described as inequality constraints of a quadratic programming (QP) problem by using the model predictive control (MPC) method. To guarantee the feasibility of the obtained multi-constraint QP problem, the constraints are treated as soft constraints and assigned levels of priority based on the propositional logic theory, which can realize that the constraints with lower priorities are always firstly violated to recover the feasibility of the QP problem. Since the logical variables have been introduced, the optimization problem including obstacle avoidance and system physical limits as prioritized inequality constraints is termed as MIPC method of space robots, and its computational complexity as well as possible strategies for reducing calculation amount are analyzed. Simulations of the space robot unfolding its manipulator and tracking the end-effector’s desired trajectories with the existence of obstacles and physical limits are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed obstacle avoidance strategy and MIPC control method of space robots.     

非合作目标追踪与相对状态保持控制技术研究

基于考虑J2摄动影响的改进Hill方程数学描述,将最优机动问题转化为标准线性规划问题,为在轨服务系统对非合作目标的接近过程进行路径规划,针对卫星跟踪以及悬停的特殊相对运动状态设计控制方法,实现近距离相对轨道的精确控制.最后通过数学仿真验证方案的正确性和有效性.     

Sailing at the brink – The no-limits of near-/now-term-technology solar sails and SEP spacecraft in (multiple) NEO rendezvous

Near-Earth object (NEO) in-situ exploration can provide invaluable information for science, possible future deflection actions and resource utilisation. This is only possible with space missions which approach the asteroid from its vicinity, i.e. rendezvous. This paper explores the use of solar sailing as means of propulsion for NEO rendezvous missions. Given the current state of sail technology, we search for multiple rendezvous missions of up to ten years and characteristic acceleration of up to 0.10 mm/s². Using a tree-search technique and subsequent trajectory optimisation, we find numerous options of up to three NEO encounters in the launch window 2019–2027. In addition, we explore steerable and throttleable low-thrust (e.g. solar-electric) rendezvous to a particular group of NEOs, the Taurid swarm. We show that an acceleration of 0.23 mm/s² would suffice for a rendezvous in approximately 2000 days, while shorter transfers are available as the acceleration increases. Finally, we show low-thrust options (0.3 mm/s²) to the fictitious asteroid 2019 PDC, as part of an asteroid deflection exercise.     

Dynamics and control of spacecraft hovering using the geomagnetic Lorentz force

To achieve hovering, a spacecraft thrusts continuously to induce an equilibrium state at a desired position. Due to the constraints on the quantity of propellant onboard, long-time hovering around low-Earth orbits (LEO) is hardly achievable using traditional chemical propulsion. The Lorentz force, acting on an electrostatically charged spacecraft as it moves through a planetary magnetic field, provides a new propellantless method for orbital maneuvers. This paper investigates the feasibility of using the induced Lorentz force as an auxiliary means of propulsion for spacecraft hovering. Assuming that the Earth’s magnetic field is a dipole that rotates with the Earth, a dynamical model that characterizes the relative motion of Lorentz spacecraft is derived to analyze the required open-loop control acceleration for hovering. Based on this dynamical model, we first present the hovering configurations that could achieve propellantless hovering and the corresponding required specific charge of a Lorentz spacecraft. For other configurations, optimal open-loop control laws that minimize the control energy consumption are designed. Likewise, the optimal trajectories of required specific charge and control acceleration are both presented. The effect of orbital inclination on the expenditure of control energy is also analyzed. Further, we also develop a closed-loop control approach for propellantless hovering. Numerical results prove the validity of proposed control methods for hovering and show that hovering around low-Earth orbits would be achievable if the required specific charge of a Lorentz spacecraft becomes feasible in the future. Typically, hovering radially several kilometers above a target in LEO requires specific charges on the order of 0.1 C/kg.     

椭圆轨道卫星空间任意位置悬停的方法

对任务星施加持续的控制加速度,使其在飞行过程中相对于目标卫星的空间位置保持不变,即实现任意位置悬停飞行。通过对任务星与目标星的相对运行分析和重力差异补偿分析,给出了在飞行过程中任务星相对于运行在椭圆轨道上的目标星实现任意位置悬停所需的径向、切向和法向控制加速度公式。最后对典型悬停飞行过程进行了动力学仿真,并对不同悬停飞行任务的能量消耗进行了对比分析,表明在一段时间内对任务星进行轨道悬停是可行的。     

一种地外天体路标图像的稀疏化表征方法

摘要： 针对用于地外天体着陆视觉导航的路标图像信息存在的计算量大和占用存储空间大等问题,提出一种路标图像的稀疏化表征方法.引入着陆路标图像的尺度估计和尺度变换,采用Harris 算法提取路标特征点,改进了FREAK特征描述子用以稀疏化表征天体路标信息;并针对图像旋转、尺度变化、图像噪声和尺度估计误差4种外界干扰,仿真对比改进算法与原FREAK算法、SURF算法的性能.仿真结果表明：提出的算法大幅减少计算量和特征描述子所占用的存储空间,同时能够正确匹配到更多的路标特征,鲁棒性更好,更适合地外天体着陆任务应用.     

The dynamical environments analysis of surface particles for different shaped asteroids

Asteroids are coming to be a popular topic in the areas of astrophysical studies and deep space exploration recently. However, surface dynamics of asteroids is still a difficult problem. This paper aims at the motion analysis of surface particles for different asteroids. The dynamical analysis method of particles’ movement is given for three parts: global motion trend, local motion trend and static analysis. A dimensionless parameter ζ is defined to distinguish the predominant term to determine the distribution of effective potential. Three kinds of common asteroids: spheroidal asteroid, spindle-shaped asteroid and dumbbell-shaped asteroid are all discussed for those three parts with different parameter ζ. The motion trend of particles on the surface of each kind of asteroid is given. The static analysis of surface particles for different asteroids is also illustrated. Based on them, some common rules for different shaped asteroids are revealed. This paper could not only provide a reference for asteroid exploration missions but also be meaningful for the research of morphologic evolution of asteroids.     

Solar sailing in realistic mode,based on a locally-optimal control laws

Ballistic design of solar sailing missions in the solar system is composed of defining the design parameters, the control programs, and the trajectories that provide performance goals of a flight. The use of a solar sail spacecraft imposes specific restrictions on mission parameters that include the degradation limit on the flight duration, the maximum temperature of solar sail's surface, the minimum distance from the Sun, the maximum angular velocity of the spacecraft's rotation and others.Many authors considered the impact of these restrictions on the design of the mission separately, but they used a sophisticated method of finding the exact optimal motion control or applied the most straightforward laws of motion control. This paper uses local-optimal control laws at the complete mathematical models of motion and functioning of solar sail spacecraft to describe a technique of designing interplanetary missions. The described method avoids the need to obtain an accurate optimal solution to the control problem and does not cause significant computational difficulties.     

基于分段常值推力的水滴悬停构型控制策略

针对航天器编队飞行任务对相对运动控制的要求,研究了在分段常值推力控制下航天器受迫绕飞构型的设计与控制问题。首先,基于脉冲控制下的水滴悬停构型,提出了多段常值推力控制实现水滴悬停构型的打靶方程;将打靶方程转化为求解极值问题,采用最小二乘法来求解;分析了一段常值推力可行性。然后,以连续常值小推力控制方程为基础,推导了小邻域定理,分析了近距离相对运动条件下两段常值推力控制的可行性;针对可能出现求解精度差的问题,提出了小推力增量方程来修正精度,并证明在靠近理想解的情况下多次迭代可以趋近于理想解。最后,通过数值仿真实现常值小推力控制下的水滴悬停相对运动。数值仿真结果表明常值小推力控制策略可行,研究成果完善了航天器受迫绕飞构型设计与控制的相关理论,为工程应用提供参考。      

高超声速飞行器预设性能反演控制方法设计

为解决吸气式高超声速飞行器的飞行控制问题,提出了一种新型预设性能神经反演控制器设计方法。通过构造预设性能函数,保证速度跟踪误差和高度跟踪误差能够按照预设的收敛速度、超调量及稳态误差收敛至期望的区域,同时满足系统预设的瞬态性能和稳态精度。在反演控制设计结构下,引入径向基函数（RBF）神经网络对模型未知函数及不确定项进行逼近,提高了控制系统的鲁棒性。引入的RBF神经网络中仅有一个参数需要在线更新,有效提高了控制准确性,避免了通常反演控制方法中经常出现的"微分膨胀问题",并降低了计算量。通过仿真实验验证了所设计控制系统的有效性和可行性。      

基于模糊控制的直升机纵向电传控制律设计

直升机具有多变量、轴间强耦合和不稳定的非线性系统的特点,在悬停状态下尤为严重,用常规控制方法设计的控制系统难以满足高性能直升机的需要.模糊控制是一种比较近似于人类解决问题方式的控制方法,通过模仿人类思维中的模糊概念,进而控制某些不确定系统,应用模糊控制对直升机在悬停条件下纵向姿态控制/姿态保持(ACAH)响应类型控制律进行设计,通过仿真证明了这种方法的良好效果.      

基于自适应的月球着陆器悬停避障方法

摘要： 考虑质量和推力不确定性,月球着陆器在悬停避障时将难以快速稳定到设计高度.为解决此问题,提出一种基于自适应的高精度悬停避障方法,其核心是利用位置测量作为观测器的输入,对质量和推力不确定性进行快速估计和补偿.与基于PID的方案相比,该方案具有估计速度更快的优点,能够快速实现高精度的悬停避障控制.最后对所提方法给出仿真验证.     

Hexapod多自由度微激励系统的振动时域波形控制

摘要： Hexapod多自由度微激励系统常用于航天器有效载荷在轨微振动环境的模拟，但采用现有控制方法无法精确稳定跟踪低频正弦加速度，这是由于系统耦合度高、非线性在低频段较强，被控对象相位滞后过大造成的.针对此问题，基于传统离线迭代控制方法，提出一种复合超前校正、多倍频陷波滤波器的改进离线迭代控制方法.其中，离线迭代进行补偿控制，超前校正进一步补偿系统相位，多倍频陷波滤波器去除非线性干扰.跟踪低频定频正弦加速度的实验结果表明，对比传统离线迭代控制方法，改进方法收敛快、控制精度高；对比现有自适应正弦振动控制方法，改进方法将符合精度要求的加速度控制频带下限由14.5 Hz扩宽至8 Hz.实验结果验证了所提方法的有效性.     

相对空间目标任意位置悬停闭环控制方法研究

研究了相对空间目标任意位置悬停的控制方法,针对现有的开环控制方法对外部干扰和初始误差敏感的问题,基于Hill方程提出了悬停闭环控制方法。进行了仿真计算,证明了方法的有效性。仿真结果表明:该文方法的燃料消耗与开环控制接近而控制性能更好,可以在具有初始速度误差的情况下实现相对于空间目标的任意位置悬停。     

Event-triggered adaptive fuzzy attitude takeover control of spacecraft

The problem of attitude takeover control of spacecraft by using cellular satellites with limited communication, actuator faults and input saturation is investigated. In order to lighten the communication burden of cellular satellites, an event-triggered control strategy is adopted. The filtered attitude information needs to be transmitted only when the defined measurement error reaches the event-triggered threshold in this strategy. Then, to deal with the unknown inertia matrix, actuator faults, external disturbances and the errors caused by event-triggered scheme, fuzzy logic systems is introduced to estimate the uncertainties directly. Combining fuzzy logic control strategy and the event-triggered method, the first event-triggered adaptive fuzzy control law is developed. Then, torque saturation of cellular satellites is further considered in the second control law, where the upper bound of the uncertainties is estimated by fuzzy logic systems. The resulting closed-loop systems under the two control laws are guaranteed to be bounded. Finally, the effectiveness of two proposed control laws is verified by the numerical simulations.