InfraRed Astronomy Satellite Swarm Interferometry (IRASSI): Overview and study results

The far-infrared (FIR) regime is one of the few wavelength ranges where no astronomical data with sub-arcsecond spatial resolution exist yet. Neither of the medium-term satellite projects like SPICA, Millimetron or OST will resolve this malady. For many research areas, however, information at high spatial and spectral resolution in the FIR, taken from atomic fine-structure lines, from highly excited carbon monoxide (CO) and especially from water lines would open the door for transformative science. These demands call for interferometric concepts. We present here first results of our feasibility study IRASSI (Infrared Astronomy Satellite Swarm Interferometry) for an FIR space interferometer. Extending on the principal concept of the previous study ESPRIT, it features heterodyne interferometry within a swarm of five satellite elements. The satellites can drift in and out within a range of several hundred meters, thereby achieving spatial resolutions of <0.1 arcsec over the whole wavelength range of 1–6 THz. Precise knowledge on the baselines will be ensured by metrology methods employing laser-based optical frequency combs, for which preliminary ground-based tests have been designed by members of our study team. We first give a motivation on how the science requirements translate into operational and design parameters for IRASSI. Our consortium has put much emphasis on the navigational aspects of such a free-flying swarm of satellites operating in relatively close vicinity. We hence present work on the formation geometry, the relative dynamics of the swarm, and aspects of our investigation towards attitude estimation. Furthermore, we discuss issues regarding the real-time capability of the autonomous relative positioning system, which is an important aspect for IRASSI where, due to the large raw data rates expected, the interferometric correlation has to be done onboard, in quasi-real-time. We also address questions regarding the spacecraft architecture and how a first thermomechanical model is used to study the effect of thermal perturbations on the spacecraft. This will have implications for the necessary internal calibration of the local tie between the laser metrology and the phase centres of the science signals and will ultimately affect the accuracy of the baseline estimations.     

Automated design architectures for co-orbiting spacecraft swarms for planetary moon mapping

This work describes the design and optimization of spacecraft swarm missions to meet spatial and temporal visual mapping requirements of missions to planetary moons, using resonant co-orbits. The algorithms described here are a part of Integrated Design Engineering and Automation of Swarms (IDEAS), a spacecraft swarm mission design software that automates the design trajectories, swarm, and spacecraft behaviors in the mission. In the current work, we focus on the swarm design and optimization features of IDEAS, while showing the interaction between the different design modules. In the design segment, we consider the coverage requirements of two general planetary moon mapping missions: global surface mapping and region of interest observation. The configuration of the swarm co-orbits for the two missions is described, where the participating spacecraft have resonant encounters with the moon on their orbital apoapsis. We relate the swarm design to trajectory design through the orbit insertion maneuver performed on the interplanetary trajectory using aero-braking. We then present algorithms to model visual coverage, and collision avoidance in the swarm. To demonstrate the interaction between different design modules, we relate the trajectory and swarm to spacecraft design through fuel mass, and mission cost estimations using preliminary models. In the optimization segment, we formulate the trajectory and swarm design optimizations for the two missions as Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) problems. In the current work, we use Genetic Algorithm as the primary optimization solver. However, we also use the Particle Swarm Optimizer to compare the optimizer performance. Finally, the algorithms described here are demonstrated through numerical case studies, where the two visual mapping missions are designed to explore the Martian moon Deimos.     

Spacecraft swarm dynamics and control about asteroids

This paper presents a novel methodology to control spacecraft swarms about single asteroids. This approach enables the use of small, autonomous swarm spacecraft in conjunction with a mothership, reducing the need for the Deep Space Network and improving performance in future asteroid missions. The methodology is informed by a semi-analytical model for the spacecraft relative motion that includes relevant gravitational effects without assuming J2-dominance as well as solar radiation pressure. The dynamics model is exploited in an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to produce an osculating-to-mean relative orbital element (ROE) conversion that relies on minimum knowledge of the asteroid gravity. The resulting real-time relative mean state estimate is utilized in a new formation-keeping control algorithm. The control problem is cast in mean relative orbital elements to leverage the geometric insight of secular and long-period effects in the definition of control windows for swarm maintenance. Analytical constraints that ensure collision avoidance and enforce swarm geometry are derived and enforced in ROE space. The proposed swarm-keeping algorithms are tested and validated in high-fidelity simulations for a reference asteroid mission.     

基于Tersoff-Brenner势的航天器群图形编队研究

从分子动力学模拟角度提出了一种分布式航天器群导航控制方法,可使行星中心开普勒轨道上的航天器群在有限的感知信息条件下自发实现图形编队.该法基于人工势场技术,主要分为两个部分：改造自C-W方程的外围全局汇聚势场和基于Tersoff-Brenner势的局部塑形势场.前者将各航天器导引至预设汇聚点附近,后者进一步使各航天器自我调整彼此相对位置,最终编成期望构型.此外,引入一速度依赖型耗散项以确保任意初始分布条件下图形编队均收敛.通过地球同步轨道上航天器群正四面体构型（含中心,即金刚石结构单元）编队仿真,验证了所提方法的有效性和优越性.将编队脚本简单修改,该法还可方便用于其它类碳元素同素异形体构型的塑造,如石墨晶体结构单元正六边形等.     

航天器交会计算机视觉系统测距求解新算法

对航天器交会对接最终逼近段应用的计算机视觉系统,提出目标航天器标志点测距求解新算法.该方法根据标志点构型几何特征,建立非线性测距方程组并构造加权目标函数,按最小二乘问题,采用Gauss-Newton数值迭代法求解测距最佳值.获得测距后,即可应用四元数估算法(QUEST)确定相对姿态与相对位置.对非共面标志点构型(如3点T型与5点锥型)和共面标志点构型(如正方形、矩形、菱形),目标函数均含标志点间距比率关系项;对共面构型,目标函数还包含共面条件项.对共面标志点四边形构型,利用对角线交点的虚影像坐标确定测距求解迭代初值.大量模拟计算结果表明,提出的测距求解算法对共面与非共面各种标志点构型普遍适用,满足最终逼近段相对状态确定要求.      

集群航天器球形边界控制

集群航天器由于其独特的优势,在未来航天任务中将举足轻重,其边界控制也随即成为研究热点.针对近距离伴飞的圆轨道集群航天器,以集群航天器蜂拥控制模型为基础,通过集群航天器球形边界的定义,运用粒子群优化算法,实现了稳定状态下集群航天器的边界参数寻优.采用球形空腔势函数的控制方法,结合集群航天器边界参数反馈信息,实现了对集群航天器球形边界控制,并仿真验证了算法的可行性.     

基于CGAPIO的航天器编队重构路径规划方法

针对航天器编队重构的路径规划问题，考虑燃料消耗和碰撞概率等约束条件，以及基本鸽群算法存在的问题，提出一种基于混沌初始化和高斯扰动的自适应鸽群(CGAPIO)算法。为了得到多样性和覆盖性更好的鸽群初始值，采用Tent Map混沌模型进行鸽群初始化操作；在地图和指南针算子阶段，为提高全局搜索能力，引入了自适应的权重因子和学习因子更新个体的位置和速度；在地标算子阶段，为避免算法陷入局部最优，将高斯扰动加入到鸽群中心位置。仿真实验结果表明:CGAPIO算法与基本鸽群算法和粒子群算法相比，提高了全局搜索能力，避免了局部最优，规划得到的路径更加平滑，各航天器碰撞概率较低，编队重构消耗的总燃料至少减少了12%。      

基于信息素决策的无人机集群协同搜索算法

针对无人机(UAV)集群在未知环境中无先验信息条件下的搜索问题，提出了一种以信息素为决策机制的无人机集群协同搜索算法。首先，考虑无人机通信约束，建立了有外部节点的星型网络通信和无外部节点的自组织网络通信2种形式的搜索模型。其次，通过环境地图向信息素地图映射的方法建立任务环境模型。将任务过程分为3个阶段，在搜索阶段，无人机通过不断地移动实现本机信息素地图的更新；在通信阶段，通过通信网络实现多机信息素地图的融合；在决策阶段，根据局部信息和全局信息做出决策，并将栅格信息素浓度作为决策函数来引导无人机的位置更新。基于信息素地图覆盖率来定量描述搜索效果。最后，仿真结果表明，所提算法能够对区域进行覆盖搜索，表现为搜索效率高、抗毁性强、受集群的初始位置影响小。      

基于离散粒子群算法的多飞行器在轨服务任务分配

为解决多约束条件下飞行器在轨服务任务分配问题,以在轨卫星群为研究对象,提出了一种基于离散粒子群算法的多服务飞行器的目标分配方法,综合分析目标飞行器价值、服务飞行器消耗以及能量时间消耗等3项关键指标因素,建立了在轨服务任务分配问题的数学模型。通过构建粒子与实际问题间的对应关系,设计了新的离散粒子群位置和速度更新公式求解任务分配问题。仿真结果表明:离散粒子群算法具有收敛速度快,寻优能力强等优点,能够有效地解决多约束条件下的服务飞行器协同任务分配问题。     

一种基于非视距误差补偿的协同定位算法

非视距(NLOS)误差对超宽带(UWB)室内定位技术的定位精度有很大影响。针对此问题,根据NLOS环境下附加时延和由信道决定的均方根时延扩展的联合统计特性,估计NLOS误差的均值和方差,对定位算法测量值和系统测量误差协方差进行修正,并采用时变权重的粒子群算法与Chan算法相结合的协同定位算法进行定位计算,具有良好的全局搜索与局部搜索最优解的能力。仿真结果表明,在NLOS环境下,相比于单一算法,协同算法定位精度提高30%左右,在一定程度上抑制了NLOS误差的影响,满足室内定位的要求。     

Multivariate bootstrapped relative positioning of spacecraft using GPS L1/Galileo E1 signals

GNSS-based precise relative positioning between spacecraft normally requires dual frequency observations, whereas attitude determination of the spacecraft, mainly due to the stronger model given by the a priori knowledge of the length and geometry of the baselines, can be performed precisely using only single frequency observations. When the Galileo signals will come available, the number of observations at the L1 frequency will increase as we will have a GPS and Galileo multi-constellation. Moreover the L1 observations of the Galileo system and modernized GPS are more precise than legacy GPS and this, combined with the increased number of observations, will result in a stronger model for single frequency relative positioning. In this contribution we will develop an even stronger model by combining the attitude determination problem with relative positioning. The attitude determination problem will be solved by the recently developed Multivariate Constrained (MC-) LAMBDA method. We will do this for each spacecraft and use the outcome for an ambiguity constrained solution on the baseline between the spacecraft. In this way the solution for the unconstrained baseline is bootstrapped from the MC-LAMBDA solutions of each spacecraft in what is called: multivariate bootstrapped relative positioning. The developed approach will be compared in simulations with relative positioning using a single antenna at each spacecraft (standard LAMBDA) and a vectorial bootstrapping approach. In the simulations we will analyze single epoch, single frequency success rates as the most challenging application. The difference in performance for the approaches for single epoch solutions, is a good indication of the strength of the underlying models. As the multivariate bootstrapping approach has a stronger model by applying information on the geometry of the constrained baselines, for applications with large observation noise and limited number of observations this will result in a better performance compared to the vectorial bootstrapping approach. Compared with standard LAMBDA, it can reach a 59% higher success rate for ambiguity resolution. The higher success rate on the unconstrained baseline between the platforms comes without extra computational load as the constrained baseline(s) problem has to be solved for attitude determination and this information can be applied for relative positioning.     

异构多无人机协同目标跟踪分散化最优控制

针对主被动传感器协同目标跟踪需要,考虑到可扩展性、异构性和动态可重构性等特点,建立了适于不同测量类型和不同测量维数的异构多传感器分散化信息融合算法.以极大化信息融合所得到的信息熵及无人机(UAV,Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)观测信息质量为效能函数,建立了异构多UAV协同目标跟踪的分散化最优控制代价函数以及通信、防撞和控制等约束模型.实现了多UAV协同目标跟踪的分散化模型预测控制,并分析了通讯噪声等因素对分散化信息融合和协同控制的影响.     

基于M-AFSA的MPRM逻辑电路面积优化

现有基于传统智能优化算法的MPRM电路面积优化算法存在效果差的问题。由于MPRM电路面积优化属于组合优化问题，先提出一种多策略协同进化人工鱼群算法（MAFSA），该算法引入基于反向学习的种群初始化策略，以提高种群多样性及初始种群解的质量；引入觅食与追尾交互性策略，以加强人工鱼个体之间的信息交流、提高所提算法的收敛速度；引入自适应扰动策略，以增加人工鱼个体位置变异的随机性、避免所提算法陷入局部最优。此外，提出一种MPRM逻辑电路面积优化方法，利用所提算法来搜索电路面积最小的最佳极性。基于北卡罗莱纳州微电子中心（MCNC）Benchmark电路的实验结果表明：与遗传算法相比，所提算法优化电路平均面积百分比最高为57.24%，平均为39.57%；与人工鱼群算法相比，所提算法优化电路平均面积百分比最高为33.53%，平均为14.54%；与改进的人工鱼群算法相比，所提算法优化电路平均面积百分比最高为30.25%，平均为13.86%。     

基于变分迭代的航天器相对姿轨耦合动力学解算方法

针对航天器相对姿轨耦合一体化运动,在定义坐标系下利用对偶四元数和旋量表示航天器的一般运动,推导出航天器六自由度运动学和动力学模型,并分别采用Runge-Kutta四阶算法和变分迭代法的配点形式求解该非线性模型。变分迭代法的配点形式是变分迭代法与配点法的复合,本文先给出变分迭代法的迭代方程,再把迭代方程应用到局部时间区间上探讨了局部变分迭代法,然后把变分迭代法与配点法结合得到数值迭代方程。利用对偶四元数所建立的模型相对于其他模型较为简洁,便于分析姿轨耦合特性。仿真结果表明,相比Runge-Kutta四阶算法,变分迭代法的解算精度更高。     

Time suboptimal formation flying manoeuvres through improved magnetic charged system search

The development of fast and reliable optimization algorithms is required in order to obtain real-time optimal trajectory on-board spacecraft. In addition, the wide spread of small satellites, due to their low costs, is leading to a greater number of satellite formations in space. This paper presents an Improved version of the Magnetic Charged System Search (IMCSS) metaheuristic algorithm to compute time-suboptimal manoeuvres for satellite formation flying. The proposed algorithm exploits some strategies aimed at improving the convergence to the optimum, such as the chaotic local search and the boundary handling technique, and it is able to self-tune its internal parameters and coefficients. Moreover, the inverse dynamics technique and the differential flatness approach, through the B-splines curves, are used to approximate the trajectory. The optimization procedure is applied to the circular J2 relative model developed by Schweighart and Sedwick and to the elliptical relative motion model developed by Yamanaka and Ankersen. The results of this paper show that the convergence is better achieved by using the proposed tools, thus proving the efficiency and reliability of the algorithm in solving some space engineering problems.     

基于混沌的改进粒子群优化粒子滤波算法

针对基本粒子滤波(PF)算法存在的粒子退化和重采样引起的粒子多样性丧失,导致粒子样本无法精确表示状态概率密度函数真实分布,提出了一种基于混沌的改进粒子群优化(PSO)粒子滤波算法。通过引入混沌序列产生一组混沌变量,将产生的变量映射到优化变量的区间提高粒子质量,并利用混沌扰动克服粒子群优化局部最优问题。利用单变量非静态增长模型(UNGM)在高斯噪声和非高斯噪声环境下将该算法与基本粒子滤波和粒子群优化粒子滤波(PSO-PF)的性能进行仿真比较。结果表明:该算法的性能在有效粒子数和均方根误差(RMSE)等参数都优于基本粒子滤波和粒子群优化粒子滤波,改善了算法的精度和跟踪性能。      

挠性航天器多目标鲁棒姿态控制的DPSO算法实现

复杂航天器高性能姿态控制是完成现代新型空间任务的基础，需兼顾鲁棒性、快速性、精度和控制能量等多目标要求，但目前大多数控制系统只针对某单一目标设计。针对大型挠性航天器多目标姿态控制问题，提出一种基于差分粒子群优化算法和输出反馈的鲁棒控制方法。首先，推导了含参数不确定性的系统动力学模型；然后，给出了差分粒子群优化算法的定义和鲁棒D-稳定的线性矩阵不等式（LMI）表达；最后，在区域极点约束和Pareto最优原则下，利用所提算法对干扰抑制和控制能量指标进行了优化，得到反馈增益矩阵。该方法满足了系统多目标约束要求，且具有一定的振动抑制作用；可避免传统带极点配置的LMI方法在解决多目标问题时的保守性，也解决了将多目标转化为一个指标函数时加权系数的选择困难。数学仿真验证了该方法的有效性，相比于传统PID控制，干扰下姿态稳态误差可减小约54%。     

一种多步的基于切换星间测量的多星自主导航算法

针对基于星间测量的多星自主导航问题,从载荷优化和节约成本考虑,提出了一种单套敏感器切换测量的导航方案。建立了该导航方案下的系统状态空间模型,并基于扩展卡尔曼滤波方程给出了导航估计算法。基于多步卡尔曼滤波方法,将集中的滤波算法解耦为多个平行的子滤波器,使计算量降低到原算法的50%以下,并且在切换测量的导航方案下,部分解耦出的子滤波器可以只预测不更新,能够进一步地降低计算负担。给出了多步滤波算法的推导过程,证明了其与标准卡尔曼滤波的数学等价性,故算法的估计性能及计算结果与标准卡尔曼滤波一致,但计算速度有明显提升。最后,通过具体算例给出了算法的仿真验证。     

Neutral winds in the polar thermosphere as measured from dynamics explorer

Remote sensing measurements of the meridional thermospheric neutral wind using the Fabry-Perot Interferometer on Dynamics Explorer have been combined within-situ measurements of the zonal component using the Wind and Temperature Spectrometer on the same spacecraft. The two data sets with appropriate spatial phasing and averaging determine the vector wind along the track of the polar orbiting spacecraft. A study of fifty-eight passes over the Southern (sunlit) pole has enabled the average Universal Time dependence of the wind field to be determined for essentially a single solar local time cut. The results show the presence of a “back-ground” wind field driven by solar EUV heating upon which is superposed a circulating wind field driven by high latitude momentum and energy sources.     

Connectivity preservation and collision avoidance control for spacecraft formation flying in the presence of multiple obstacles

This paper addresses connectivity preservation and collision avoidance problem of spacecraft formation flying with multiple obstacles and parametric uncertainties under a proximity graph. In the proximity graph, each spacecraft can only get the states of the neighbor spacecraft within its sensing region. Connectivity preservation of a graph means that the connectivity of the graph should be preserved at all times during spacecraft formation flying. We consider two cases: (i) the obstacles are static, and (ii) the obstacles are dynamic. In the first case, a distributed continuous control algorithm based on artificial potential function and equivalent certainty principle is proposed to account for the unknown parameters and the static obstacles. In the second case, a sliding surface combined with a distributed adaptive control algorithm is proposed to tackle the influence of the dynamic obstacles and the unknown parameters at the same time. With the distributed control algorithms, the desired formation configuration can be achieved while the connectivity of the graph is preserved and the collisions between the spacecraft and the obstacles are avoided. Numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the theoretical results.