Closed-loop distance-keeping for long-term satellite cluster flight

Cluster flight is a term used for describing multiple satellites that are being held within pre-defined minimum and maximum distances for long time intervals, possibly the entire mission. This technology is required for a myriad of space architectures and missions, including disaggregated space architectures. Whereas the literature is abundant with works on control laws for satellite formation flying, there are only a handful of works on control of cluster flight. The purpose of the current work is to develop a cluster flight control algorithm, which is able to keep the satellites of the cluster within pre-specified minimum and maximum distances, while utilizing small amounts of propellant. The newly developed algorithm relies on the natural inter-satellite distance dynamics. The algorithm incorporates realistic mission constraints, such as constant-magnitude thrust, and is implemented in feedback form, steering the mean elements to judiciously selected reference values. Simulations indicate that a few tens of grams of propellent are sufficient for operating a cluster flight mission in excess of 1 year, using low specific-impulse thrusters.     

Two-step optimal estimator for three dimensional target tracking

This study presents an adaptation of a novel estimation methodology to the general nonlinear three-dimensional problem of tracking a maneuvering target. The two-step optimal estimator (TSE) suggests an attractive alternative to the standard extended Kalman filter (EKF). A superior performance is accomplished by dividing the estimation problem into two steps: a linear first step and a nonlinear second step. The target tracking performance of the TSE is shown to be better than an EKF implemented in either inertial or modified spherical coordinates. In the passive case, where bearing/elevation angles only are measured, the TSE yields excellent range and target acceleration estimates. In the active case, where range measurement is available as well, a homing missile employing closed-loop optimal guidance based on the TSE state estimates obtains smaller miss distances than with either versions of the EKF.     

The gauge-generalized Gyldén–Meshcherskii Problem

The Gyldén–Meshcherskii Problem (GMP) extends the classical two-body problem of Newton and Kepler by considering time-varying gravitating masses, an important extension of the two-body problem for modeling cometary motion and cosmological phenomena. In this paper, we consider the GMP in a specialized setup, the setup of gauge theory. We show that the variational equations, modeling the effect of the mass time variation on the orbital elements, can be derived by fixing a gauge of a particular form that is different from the Lagrange gauge. Thus, the orbital elements modeling the effect of a time-varying secondary mass are non-osculating. This implies that the trajectory of a celestial body whose mass is continuously changing cannot be approximated by a series of Keplerian orbits. Finally, we provide the first-order averaged equations written in terms of non-osculating elements.     

Robust guidance for electro-optical missiles

A robust guidance law is presented which renders zero miss distance (ZMD) against deterministically or randomly maneuvering targets for all missile parametric uncertainties. Since the resulting guidance controller is a phase-lead network, it is mainly suitable for systems characterized by moderate glint levels such as electro-optical missiles. The structured uncertainties in missile dynamics are modeled by interval transfer functions. It is first shown that for the nominal case, when the total missile transfer function is positive real, ZMD can be obtained. When uncertainties are considered, the problem becomes design of a guidance controller which renders a family of transfer functions positive real. A new algorithm for the design of such controllers is proposed. An example illustrating a typical design procedure for a nonlinear real-life missile model is given, showing the simplicity and effectiveness of the proposed robust guidance. The main conclusion of this work is that the newly developed guidance law performs well against highly maneuvering targets and may be a suitable alternative to optimal guidance laws in low-glint systems.