Attitude pointing enhancement for combined energy and attitude control system

This paper extends the previous works that appeared in Acta Astronautica. An approach that incorporates the Active Force Control (AFC) technique into a conventional Proportional-Derivative (PD) controller is proposed for a 50 kg small satellite. Numerical treatments are performed to validate the effectiveness of AFC. The attitude control capability of the combined energy and attitude control system (CEACS) is expected to improve. The result shows an important attitude pointing enhancement for the CEACS attitude control task.     

Multi-objective output-feedback control for microsatellite attitude control: An LMI approach

Mixed H₂/H_∞ output-feedback controller with pole placement constraints against the internal uncertainty of moment-of-inertia variation and space environmental disturbances is proposed for mircosatellite attitude control. The multi-objective controller is designed based on linear model of attitude dynamics. The H_∞ performance takes into account both robustness stability against moments-of-inertia uncertainty and the disturbance rejection aspect. H₂ performance takes into account the LQG aspect which avoids the undesirable wheels’ saturation effect. In addition, the closed-loop poles can be forced into some sector of the stable half-plane to obtain well-damped transient responses. The problem is then reduced to a convex optimization involving linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), so it can be efficiently solved. The simulation results demonstrate that the presented mixed H₂/H_∞ control system is robust stable and optimal in the sense of H₂ norm, and has good steady-state and dynamic performances against the parameter uncertainties and various disturbances for the microsatellite attitude control system.     

Nonlinear H∞ based underactuated attitude control for small satellites with two reaction wheels

Underactuated attitude control is supposed to be used on spacecraft when failure happens with onboard actuators. One main problem with existing underactuated attitude control designs is their limited capabilities against disturbances. In order to solve this problem, an approach based on the theory of H∞$H\infty$ is proposed in this paper. Two propositions are derived from the H∞$H\infty$ theory to improve the robustness of one popular underactuated attitude control design, which was presented by Tsiotras et al. It is proved mathematically that the controller satisfying these two propositions respectively can stabilize the underactuated attitude system locally or globally. The numerical simulations show that the improved controllers based on the H∞$H\infty$ theory could provide higher pointing accuracy for small satellites against disturbances. This validates the effectiveness of the proposed H∞$H\infty$ based approach to improve existing underactuated attitude control designs.     

On orbit control using gravity gradient effects

Possibility of orbit control using gravity gradient (GG) effects without any mass expulsion is discussed. For simplicity, a dumb-bell type satellite and circular orbits are mainly considered. It is shown that the GG effects can be applied to convert attitude torques into orbital torques and vice versa. In central gravitational force fields, maximum orbital torques or thrusts are available from the GG force when roll or pitch angle is $\text{±}\text{π}\text{4}$ provided that the attitude angle is null when the dumb-bell axis coincides with the local vertical. Such external torques as geomagnetic or solar wind pressure can be utilized to maintain the $\text{±}\text{π}\text{4}$ attitude, then the orbital torques are available forever. In non-central gravitational fields, without any external torque, the orbital radii of circular orbits can be increased by controlling the satellite attitude using electric energy. The use of the Earth's oblateness effects and the exterior Lunar potential is discussed.     

采用变速控制力矩陀螺的一种姿态/能量一体化控制研究

本文研究采用变速控制力矩陀螺（VSCMG）的航天器姿态／能量一体化控制技术。首先建立了以变速控制力矩陀螺为执行机构的航天器姿态动力学模型，并给出了全局稳定的姿态反馈控制律。以控制力矩陀螺群的构型奇异量度为依据，分别考虑了VSCMG的控制力矩陀螺（CMG）工作模式和反作用飞轮（RW）工作模式。在陀螺群接近奇异时启用转子的反作用飞轮工作模式来补偿控制力矩陀螺采用鲁棒伪逆操纵律时所引起的力矩误差；在陀螺群远离奇异状态时，用控制力矩陀螺来补偿转子储能带来的干扰力矩。在姿态控制的同时利用转子的变速特性，完成按照给定的功率存储／释放能量，并在陀螺群远离奇异状态时对储能过程中转子的转速进行调节，以保持良好地动量包络外形。最后以某航天器的姿态控制为例，给出了数值仿真结果。     

Spacecraft attitude maneuver using two single-gimbal control moment gyros

In this paper, arbitrary rest-to-rest attitude maneuver problems for a satellite using two single-gimbal control moment gyros (2SGCMGs) are considered. Although single-gimbal control moment gyros are configured in the same manner as the traditional pyramid-array CMG, only two CMGs are assumed to be available. Attitude maneuver problems are similar to problems involving two reaction wheels (RWs) from the viewpoint of the number of actuators. In other words, the problem treated herein is a kind of underactuated problem. Although 2SGCMGs can generate torques around all axes, they cannot generate torques around each axis independently. Therefore, control methods designed for a satellite using two reaction wheels cannot be applied to three-axis attitude maneuver problems for a satellite using 2SGCMGs. In this paper, for simplicity, maneuvers around the x- and z-axes are first considered, and then a maneuver around the y-axis due to the corning effect resulting from the maneuver around the x- and z-axes is considered. Since maneuvers around each axis are established by the proposed method, arbitrary attitude maneuvers can be achieved using 2SGCMGs. In addition, the maneuvering angles around the z- and x-axes, which are required in order to maneuver around the y-axis, are analytically determined, and the total time required for maneuvering around the y-axis is then analyzed numerically.     

Combustion chamber pressure control based on mixed H∞-describing function approach

A new single range controller design approach for use with nonlinear liquid propellant engines (LPE) is developed. The approach is based on a describing function model of the nonlinear LPE coupled with the application of the H_∞ control theory. The approach is applicable to nonlinear LPEs of a general nature without any restrictions on nonlinearity type, number of nonlinear terms, nonlinearity arrangement, or system order. The approach is applied to an existing nonlinear LPE, and the results are compared with those obtained with an alternative method that was previously reported in the open literature.     

Photochemical initiation of gaseous detonations

Direct initiation of detonations in gaseous mixtures of C₂H₂-O₂, H₂-O₂ and H₂-Cl₂ in the pressure range of 10–150 torr using flash photolysis was studied. Similar to blast initiation using a concentrated powerful energy source, it was found that for photochemical initiation, there exists a certain threshold of flash intensity and energy for each mixture at any given initial pressure and composition below which a deflagration is formed. At the critical threshold, however, a fully developed detonation is rapidly formed in the immediate vicinity of the window of incident UV radiation. However, at super critical flash energies, the amplitude of the detonation formed decreases and combustion of the entire irradiated volume approaches a constant volume explosion. It was found that photo-chemical initiation requires both a certain minimum peak value of the free radical concentration generated by the photo-dissociation as well as an appropriate gradient of this free radical distribution. The minimum peak radical concentration permits rapid reaction rates for the generation of strong pressure waves, while the gradient is necessary for the amplification of the shock waves to a detonation. If the gradient is absent and the free radicals are uniformly distributed in the mixture, then the entire volume simply explodes as in a constant volume process. The present study reveals that the mechanism of photochemical initiation is one of proper temporal synchronization of the chemical energy release to the shock wave as it propagates through the mixture. In analogy to the LASER, the term SWACER is introduced to represent this mechanism of Shock Wave Amplication by Coherent Energy Release. There are strong indications that this SWACER mechanism is universal and plays the main role in the formation of detonations whenever a powerful concentrated external source is not used to generate a strong shock wave in the explosive.     

Use the water: In-situ resource technology for icy-surface landers

Robotic landers serve vital reconnaissance roles in the exploration of planetary surfaces, but are constrained by deliverable payload size and environment survivability. Although the Mars exploration rovers (MER) have shown incredible survivability, their solar power source limits the science output per sol. Future landers will be larger, and will incorporate more sophisticated data-collection and analysis packages, which will likely bring with them an increased demand for power. Anticipating this demand, we propose an innovative hybrid power system combining a primary radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) with a secondary alkaline fuel cell. This combination provides the opportunity to utilize more effectively the energy produced by the RTG, to produce and store O₂ and H₂ via electrolysis of melted ice, and use this obtained O₂ and H₂ in a variety of ways, including as fuel for a regenerative fuel cell. This hybrid system has applications ranging from planetary rovers and deep-space probes to human habitats.     

The results of flight tests of an attitude control system for the Chibis-M microsatellite

The attitude control system of the Chibis-M microsatellite is described. Results of flight experiments on damping the initial angular velocity (made using magnetorquers) are considered, as well as stabilization in the orbital referece frame, and orientation of solar arrays toward the Sun using reaction wheels. The operation of algorithms of satellite attitude determination on sunlit and shadow segments of the orbit is also under study. The general logic of operation of the attitude control system in automatic mode is presented and discussed.     

Prediction of turbulent diffusion flames with a four-equation turbulence model

For turbulent flame prediction a four-equation turbulence model consisting of the turbulent kinetic energy, the dissipation rate and the density-velocity correlations using unweighted statistics is suggested. The fluctuating concentrations are taken into account by using Spalding's (1971) equation for the variance of the mixture fraction f and by defining the probability density function of f as beta-function. The thermodynamic model for the combustion of H₂ with air assumes infinitely fast reaction in a global single step. Preliminary results are shown for the calculation of Kent and Bilger (1972) turbulent H₂-air diffusion flame. For this flame with fluctuating density the inclusion of the velocity-density correlations appears to be essential, because they have a strong effect especially on the development of the turbulent viscosity and the mean velocity and mass fraction profiles. Consequently the mean concentrations are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Influences of H2O mass fraction and chemical kinetics mechanism on the turbulent diffusion combustion of H2–O2 in supersonic flows

Hydrogen is one of the most promising fuels for the airbreathing hypersonic propulsion system, and it attracts an increasing attention of the researchers worldwide. In this study, a typical hydrogen-fueled supersonic combustor was investigated numerically, and the predicted results were compared with the available experimental data in the open literature. Two different chemical reaction mechanisms were employed to evaluate their effects on the combustion of H₂–O₂, namely the two-step and the seven-step mechanisms, and the vitiation effect was analyzed by varying the H₂O mass fraction. The obtained results show that the predicted mole fraction profiles for different components show very good agreement with the available experimental data under the supersonic mixing and combustion conditions, and the chemical reaction mechanism has only a slight impact on the overall performance of the turbulent diffusion combustion. The simple mechanism of H₂–O₂ can be employed to evaluate the performance of the combustor in order to reduce the computational cost. The H₂O flow vitiation makes a great difference to the combustion of H₂–O₂, and there is an optimal H₂O mass fraction existing to enhance the intensity of the turbulent combustion. In the range considered in this paper, its optimal value is 0.15. The initiated location of the reaction appears far away from the bottom wall with the increase of the H₂O mass fraction, and the H₂O flow vitiation quickens the transition from subsonic to supersonic mode at the exit of the combustor.     

Equilibrium attitude and stability of a spacecraft on a stationary orbit around an asteroid

The stationary orbits around an asteroid, if exist, can be used for communication and navigation purposes just as around the Earth. The equilibrium attitude and stability of a rigid spacecraft on a stationary orbit around a uniformly-rotating asteroid are studied. The linearized equations of attitude motion are obtained under the small motion assumption. Then, the equilibrium attitude is determined in both cases of a general and a symmetrical spacecraft. Due to the higher-order inertia integrals of the spacecraft, the equilibrium attitude is slightly away from zero Euler angles. Then necessary conditions of stability of this conservative system are analyzed based on the linearized equations of motion. The effects of different parameters, including the harmonic coefficients C₂₀ and C₂₂ of the asteroid and higher-order inertia integrals of the spacecraft, on the stability are assessed and compared. Due to the significantly non-spherical shape and rapid rotation of the asteroid, the effects of the harmonic coefficients C₂₀ and C₂₂ are very significant, while effects of the third- and fourth-order inertia integrals of the spacecraft can be neglected. Considering a spacecraft on a stationary orbit around an example asteroid, we show that the classical stability domain predicted by the Beletskii–DeBra–Delp method on a circular orbit in a central gravity field is modified due to the non-spherical mass distribution of the asteroid. Our results are confirmed by a numerical simulation.     

Experimental investigation of fuel regression rate in a HTPB based lab-scale hybrid rocket motor

The fuel regression rate is an important parameter in the design process of the hybrid rocket motor. Additives in the solid fuel may have influences on the fuel regression rate, which will affect the internal ballistics of the motor. A series of firing experiments have been conducted on lab-scale hybrid rocket motors with 98% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) oxidizer and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) based fuels in this paper. An innovative fuel regression rate analysis method is established to diminish the errors caused by start and tailing stages in a short time firing test. The effects of the metal Mg, Al, aromatic hydrocarbon anthracene (C₁₄H₁₀), and carbon black (C) on the fuel regression rate are investigated. The fuel regression rate formulas of different fuel components are fitted according to the experiment data. The results indicate that the influence of C₁₄H₁₀ on the fuel regression rate of HTPB is not evident. However, the metal additives in the HTPB fuel can increase the fuel regression rate significantly.     

All-propulsion design of the drag-free and attitude control of the European satellite GOCE

This paper concerns the drag-free and attitude control (DFAC) of the European Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer satellite (GOCE), during the science phase. GOCE aims to determine the Earth's gravity field with high accuracy and spatial resolution, through complementary space techniques such as gravity gradiometry and precise orbit determination. Both techniques rely on accurate attitude and drag-free control, especially in the gradiometer measurement bandwidth (5–100 mHz), where non-gravitational forces must be counteracted down to micronewton, and spacecraft attitude must track the local orbital reference frame with micro-radian accuracy. DFAC aims to enable the gravity gradiometer to operate so as to determine the Earth's gravity field especially in the so-called measurement bandwidth (5–100 mHz), making use of ion and micro-thruster actuators. The DFAC unit has been designed entirely on a simplified discrete-time model (Embedded Model) derived from the fine dynamics of the spacecraft and its environment; the relevant control algorithms are implemented and tuned around the Embedded Model, which is the core of the control unit. The DFAC has been tested against uncertainties in spacecraft and environment and its code has been the preliminary model for final code development. The DFAC assumes an all-propulsion command authority, partly abandoned by the actual GOCE control system because of electric micro-propulsion not being fully developed. Since all-propulsion authority is expected to be imperative for future scientific and observation missions, design and simulated results are believed to be of interest to the space community.     

High order optimal feedback control of space trajectories with bounded control

Optimal feedback control is classically based on linear approximations, whose accuracy drops off rapidly in highly nonlinear dynamics. Several nonlinear optimal feedback control strategies have appeared in recent years. Among them, differential algebraic techniques have been used to tackle nonlinearities by expanding the solution of the optimal control problem about a reference trajectory and reducing the computation of optimal feedback control laws to the evaluation of high order polynomials. However, the resulting high order method could not handle control saturation constraints, which remain a critical facet of nonlinear optimal feedback control. This work introduces the management of saturating actuators in the differential algebraic method. More specifically, the constraints are included in the optimal control problem formulation and differential algebra is used to expand the associated optimal bang–bang solution with respect to the initial and terminal conditions. Optimal feedback control laws for thrust direction and switching times are again computed by evaluating the resulting polynomials. Illustrative applications are presented in the frame of the optimal low-thrust transfer to asteroid 1996 FG₃.     

The hydrogen value chain: applying the automotive role model of the hydrogen economy in the aerospace sector to increase performance and reduce costs

Hydrogen will assume a key role in Europe's effort to adopt its energy dependent society to satisfy its needs without releasing vast amounts of greenhouse gases. The paradigm shift is so paramount that one speaks of the “Hydrogen Economy”, as the energy in this new and ecological type of economy is to be distributed by hydrogen. However, H₂ is not a primary energy source but rather an energy carrier, a means of storing, transporting and distributing energy, which has to be generated by other means.Various H₂ storage methods are possible; however industries' favourite is the storage of gaseous hydrogen in high pressure tanks. The biggest promoter of this storage methodology is the automotive industry, which is currently preparing for the generation change from the fossil fuel internal combustion engines to hydrogen based fuel cells. The current roadmaps foresee a market roll-out by 2015, when the hydrogen supply infrastructure is expected to have reached a critical mass. The hydrogen economy is about to take off as being demonstrated by various national mobility strategies, which foresee several millions of electric cars driving on the road in 2020.Fuel cell cars are only one type of “electric car”, battery electric as well as hybrid cars – all featuring electric drive trains – are the others. Which type of technology is chosen for a specific application depends primarily on the involved energy storage and power requirements. These considerations are very similar to the ones in the aerospace sector, which had introduced the fuel cell already in the 1960s. The automotive sector followed only recently, but has succeeded in moving forward the technology to a level, where the aerospace sector is starting considering to spin-in terrestrial hydrogen technologies into its technology portfolio. Target areas are again high power/high energy applications like aviation, manned spaceflight and exploration missions, as well as future generation high power telecommunication satellites. Similar trends can be expected in the future for RADAR Earth Observation satellites and space infrastructure concepts of great scale.This paper examines current activities along the hydrogen value chain, both in the terrestrial and the aerospace sector. A general assessment of the synergy potential is complemented by a thorough analysis of specific applications serving as role models like a lunar manned base or pressurised rover, an aircraft APU or a high power telecommunications satellite. Potential performance improvements and cost savings serve as key performance indicators in these comparisons and trade-offs.     

Decentralized sliding-mode control for spacecraft attitude synchronization under actuator failures

This paper examines attitude synchronization and tracking problems with model uncertainties, external disturbances, actuator failures and control torque saturation. Two decentralized sliding mode control laws are proposed and analyzed based on algebraic graph theory. Using Barbalat׳s Lemma, it is shown that the control laws guarantee each spacecraft approaches the desired time-varying attitude and angular velocity while maintaining attitude synchronization among the other spacecraft in the formation. The first controller is designed in the presence of model uncertainties, external disturbances, and actuator failures. The results are extended to the case with control input saturation in the second controller. Both control laws do not require online identification of failures. Numerical simulations are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed attitude synchronization and tracking approaches.     

大推力姿控发动机推进剂控制阀流场分析

采用数值分析与试验研究相结合的方法,对姿控发动机控制阀内部流场进行分析.数值计算与试验数据相吻合,可以认为数值分析能够较真实地反映控制阀的内部流动特性.对流场参数的分析表明：来流撞击阀芯和阀口收缩节流,是控制阀内流动能量损失的两个主要环节,在结构设计中应尽量避免;另外,流道截面的连续性及流动空间的充分性也是控制阀内部结构设计需要考虑的重要环节.