Optimal control of a spinning double-pyramid Earth-pointing tethered formation

The dynamics and control of a tethered satellite formation for Earth-pointing observation missions is considered. For most practical applications in Earth orbit, a tether formation must be spinning in order to maintain tension in the tethers. It is possible to obtain periodic spinning solutions for a triangular formation whose initial conditions are close to the orbit normal. However, these solutions contain significant deviations of the satellites on a sphere relative to the desired Earth-pointing configuration. To maintain a plane of satellites spinning normal to the orbit plane, it is necessary to utilize “anchors”. Such a configuration resembles a double-pyramid. In this paper, control of a double-pyramid tethered formation is studied. The equations of motion are derived in a floating orbital coordinate system for the general case of an elliptic reference orbit. The motion of the satellites is derived assuming inelastic tethers that can vary in length in a controlled manner. Cartesian coordinates in a rotating reference frame attached to the desired spin frame provide a simple means of expressing the equations of motion, together with a set of constraint equations for the tether tensions. Periodic optimal control theory is applied to the system to determine sets of controlled periodic trajectories by varying the lengths of all interconnecting tethers (nine in total), as well as retrieval and simple reconfiguration trajectories. A modal analysis of the system is also performed using a lumped mass representation of the tethers.     

绳系卫星系统的运动与控制

绳系卫星系统的运动与控制分析,是绳系卫星应用的基础。本文的数学模型考虑了作用在子星、主星及系绳上的空气阻力以及在伸展与收回阶段主星与系绳之间的质量传递,给出了相应的具体的计算式。应用该数学模型,本文对现有的几种主要控制法,进行了模拟计算,作出评审意见。     

Satellite pitch and roll attitude maneuvers through very short tethers

Explored here is the feasibility of achieving satellite pitch and roll attitude maneuvers through tethers. The proposed tethered satellite system (TSS) comprises of four identical tethers connecting the auxiliary mass to the satellite at its four distinct off-centered and equiangularly spaced points. The open-loop tether length control laws have been developed in order to achieve arbitrary pitch and roll attitude slewing maneuvers. Numerical simulation of the nonlinear governing equations of motion for these tether length variations establishes the feasibility of executing fixed as well as chase-slewing maneuvers. Nearly passive nature of the proposed mechanism using very short tethers along with small auxiliary mass needed makes the concept particularly attractive for future space missions.     

Orbital and relative motion of a tethered satellite system

A simplified model for the orbital and relative motion of a tethered satellite system is presented. The tether acts as a light elastic string with small structural damping but without bending stiffness. Its mass is taken into account in the calculation of the total kinetic and potential energies of the tethered system. This formulation allows the inclusion of the complete gravity gradient influence on the dynamics of the system. The resulting three-dimensional motion is separated in the centre of mass orbital motion on the one hand and the relative motion of the end-bodies on the other. No restrictions on length of the tether or on mass ratio of the end-masses are imposed. It is found that the frequencies and amplitudes of the longitudinal tether oscillations are realistic as long as the tether mass is less than that of the subsatellite.     

Orbital stability of planar oscillations of a satellite in a circular orbit

We consider the attitude motion of a satellite with a circular orbit in a central Newtonian gravitational field. The satellite is a solid body whose mass geometry is that of a plate. A nonlinear analysis is made of orbital stability of planar oscillations of the satellite at which its middle or major axis of inertia is perpendicular to the orbit plane. At small amplitudes of oscillations the analysis of stability was made analytically, while for arbitrary amplitudes the numerical analysis was performed.     

Stability of a ring of connected satellites

The motion of a large number of artificial satellites connected in a ring one after another by tethers of variable length is considered. Every satellite is supposed to have a control system programmed according to some tether tension law as a function of the distance between tethered satellites. The effect of the tension control law on the stability of stationary rotation of this ring is investigated. The final stability condition includes two requirements: 1) the nominal tether tension should be less than a definite limit equal, up to numerical coefficient, to one satellite weight divided by the number of satellites; 2) tether tension should decrease (or remain constant) with the increase of the distance between tethered satellites. In dynamics the artificial rings of this kind are much like their natural prototype—meteor rings. On the other hand, the investigation of the artificial rings contributes to developing an unexpected view upon meteor rings, suggesting a model of an imaginary equivalent string.     

Tethers and debris mitigation

In recent years, the use of tethers has been proposed for reduction of space debris either through momentum transfer or use of electrodynamic effects. Tethers have been shown to at least theoretically allow for quick, elegant and cost-effective deorbit of defunct satellites or spent stages. On the other hand, the large risk that tethers themselves may pose to other satellites in orbit has been recognized as well. The large collision area of tethers, combined with operational hazards and meteoroid risk may result in a large orbital exposure. For example, in 1997, the ESA/Dutch 35-km tether deployment of YES from TEAMSAT was inhibited after an analysis of the collision risk for the case the tether operation would fail. The question rises how these two points of view compare to eachother. This paper intends to highlight a representative selection of the proposed tether applications while taking into account the added risks caused by the tethers themselves.Typical applications from recent literature will be briefly described, such as an Ariane 502 spent stage re-entry from GTO and the concept of deboost of defunct satellites by interaction of a conductive tether with the Earth magnetic field.Mass savings of the tethered sytems versus conventional equivalents will be evaluated.Based on a crude risk analysis, involving elements such as mission complexity, dynamic stability, meteoroid risk and orbital life time, a general outline of limiting factors can be given for the various applications. Special attention is reserved for implementation of mechanisms that help reduce this tether risk, such as the DUtether (Tether Degradable by Ultraviolet), utilization of airdrag and solar pressure, the effect of residual current in bare tethers, tether retrieval etc.It is proposed how a net tether-induced mitigation can be compared to that of conventional alternatives, i.e. deboost by rocket engine or a completely passive approach.This comparison is put in the perspective of an ever-increasing occupation of the space environment.It is concluded that tethers can in fact help mitigate the debris risk and that for each application a useful niche can be defined. It is argued that eliminating pollution directly after use of the precious resource of space is not only good custom, but also an important way to make the risk of debris controllable and independent of future trends. Although tethers may have large exposure in terms of area-time product, they deliver a quick cleaning service that may be appreciated by the future users of space.     

绳系卫星系统复杂模型研究

对绳系卫星系统提出一种仿真度更高的动力学模型，着重研究状态保持阶段的子星的振荡与姿态运动。主星设为质点，与系统质心相合，作圆轨道运动；子星取为三维刚体，系绳采用株式模型。除绳系统动能、引力位能及系绳弹性势能外，还考虑了系绳的结构阻尼，以及由系绳外皮包引起的弯曲力矩与扭转力矩。计算机辅助推导参与模拟计算程序设计。     

On the deployment dynamics of tether connected two-body systems

A general formulation of the deployment dynamics of tether connected two-body systems taking into account the three dimensional librational motion, longitudinal and transverse vibrations of the continuous tether, eccentricity of the orbit and aerodynamic drag in a rotating, oblate atmosphere, is presented. Three simple deployment procedures (uniform, exponential and their combination) are considered. In the beginning analytical solutions are obtained for the degenerate case of negligible vibrations in a circular orbit, which help in establishing trends for the more general situation. This is followed by the general dynamics of the system investigated through integration of the linearized autonomous equations of motion numerically. Typical plots are presented which describe the effects of various system parameters on the tether dynamics during deployment of a subsatellite from the Space Shuttle.     

General dynamics of a large class of flexible satellite systems

The paper presents a general formulation for librational dynamics of satellites with an arbitrary number, type and orientation of deploying flexible appendages. In particular, the case of beam-type flexible appendages deploying from a satellite in an arbitrary orbit is considered. The governing nonlinear, nonautonomous and coupled equations for vibration of the appendages and libration of the satellite are integrated numerically. Several cases of practical importance are considered making the system progressively more general and hence complex: (i) planar case representing pitch and appendage oscillations in the orbital plane; (ii) general attitude motion with planar vibrations of flexible members; (iii) above two cases together with the out-of-plane component of vibrations. Results show that under critical combinations of the system parameters the combined effect of flexibility and deployment can be substantial.     

绳系空间太阳能电站动力学响应分析

利用绝对节点坐标方法研究绳系空间太阳能电站在轨飞行的太阳能电池板动力响应。通过勒让德变换引入广义动量,在约束哈密尔顿体系下建立轨道、姿态和弹性振动耦合的动力学方程。基于祖冲之类方法的思想,结合辛龙格-库塔方法对微分-代数方程进行数值求解。数值算例说明本文建模方法和数值算法都是有效的,能很好地保持系统约束和能量。最后分析了绳长、平台系统的质量、轨道高度对于梁中点挠度和轴向平均应变的影响。     

非质心特征点相对位置和姿态估计方法研究

卫星编队飞行中,从星星体上偏离质心的任意特征点,其相对位置和相对姿态运动耦合。本文针对任意点的相对状态估计问题,推导了耦合相对轨道动力学方程和无陀螺相对姿态动力学方程,并且基于PSD敏感器对主星上点光源的视线测量值,提出了基于特征点耦合动力学和质心传统动力学的两种相对状态估计策略。针对每种策略分别设计了EKF和UKF两种滤波算法对相对状态进行估计。最后通过数学仿真对算法的有效性进行了验证,并对其计算量进行了分析。结果表明,四种算法均能对特征点的相对状态进行较高精度的估计。     

对无控旋转目标逼近的自适应滑模控制

对追踪器逼近无控旋转目标器的轨迹和姿态六自由度控制问题进行了研究.基于适用于任意偏心率的航天器相对运动轨道和姿态动力学模型,对追踪器逼近无控旋转目标的参考轨迹和参考姿态进行了分析与设计,推导了一种用于六自由度逼近控制的自适应滑模控制器.通过仿真分析,证明了所设计的逼近参考轨迹和参考姿态的合理性,同时验证了自适应滑模控制器的有效性.     

空间碎片绳网捕获拖曳恒张力控制

针对空间绳网系统捕获空间碎片后,在轨道转移过程中的精确控制问题,提出一种使用常值拉力将空间碎片拖曳至坟墓轨道的方法。首先,采用牛顿欧拉法建立绳系组合体动力学模型;其次,通过李雅普诺夫方法证明仅使用恒张力即可实现拖曳过程的稳定控制;再次,提出采用常值拉力切换控制律抑制空间碎片的姿态章动,采用基于相平面控制原理的控制律抑制绳系组合体面内面外摆动,规避在轨道转移过程中系绳松弛造成缠绕、系绳张力过大造成断裂或两星接近发生碰撞等风险。最后,通过拖曳离轨全过程仿真分析,校验了所提出控制方法的有效性。     

Safety implications of unscheduled situations in the operation of tethered satellite systems from the international space station

Space based experiments involving the use of tethers were examined with a view to identifying the implications of unscheduled events such as tether severance and interference between the tether and other hardware. It is the authors opinion that these type of events, which have important consequences for the operation of tethers in space, have received insufficient consideration in the extensive literature on the subject. In particular, the investigation of the interference event appears to be completely new. The examination focussed on tether experiments planned for the forthcoming International Space Station (ISS). Results were obtained through the use of a highspeed, non-linear, computer simulation model specifically designed for use with tethered satellite systems. Simulations showed that both severance and interference were possible during retrieval of the tether, particularly if ‘skip-rope’ motion is initiated. The motion following each of these incidents is predicted and shows that these unscheduled events are potentially very hazardous for the ISS. While the results of these simulations are not directly applicable to specific operations on the ISS, they fulfill the primary purpose of this paper which is the demonstration of this new technology.     

J2项摄动条件下线性化的编队卫星动力学方程

考虑J2项摄动力对参考卫星轨道的绝对影响和对伴随卫星轨道的相对影响,应用拉格朗日方法,在笛卡尔坐标系下,给出了一组考虑J2项摄动的线性化的编队卫星相对动力学方程。该方程考虑了J2项摄动力带来的相对运动平面内外的耦合和短周期项的影响,有效地提高了相对动力学模型的精度。仿真结果表明,该方程组可有效地描述J2项摄动条件下编队卫星的相对运动,其误差只有二体非线性模型的10%,利用其设计的水平圆编队半径的相对误差不超过1%,并且由于是线性化的微分方程描述,可方便地应用到编队卫星导航、制导与控制系统的设计中。     

TETHERED SATELLITE SYSTEM ANALYSIS (1) — TWO-DIMENSIONAL CASE AND REGULAR DYNAMICS

The study on tethered satellite system (TSS) in two-dimensional in-planar motion is restricted in that the tether is assumed to be massless. The equations of motion are given in a spherical coordinate system to describe the magnitude (tether length) and direction angle of the position vector between the satellites. A length rate control algorithm is adopted, and the controlled motion of the directional angle by the algorithm will have a stable equilibrium state. The equilibrium state is a fixed point if the orbit of the base-satellite is circular, and a limit cycle if the orbit is elliptic. The value and stability of the equilibrium state are determined by the parameters of the control algorithm, and the bifurcation analysis is also given. Two typical TSS missions have been simulated.     

系统参数对电动力绳系动力学的影响

将电动力绳系(EDT)的主星质量、子星质量、绳系质量以及绳系中的电流视为系统参数,研究这些参数对系统的摆动动力学和轨道动力学的影响。哑铃模型下的电动力绳系摆动动力学方程存在不稳定的周期解,通过Floquet理论来衡量周期解的不稳定程度,从而研究各系统参数对摆动动力学的影响。建立了用春分点轨道元素的形式描述的电动力绳系轨道动力学方程,并以降轨时间来衡量电动力绳系的降轨效率,从而研究系统参数对轨道动力学的影响。运用算例对周期解迁移矩阵的特征值、降轨时间随各系统参数的变化关系进行了仿真,分别得出了各系统参数对系统摆动动力学和轨道动力学的影响。综合本文的仿真结果,并考虑实际发射及空间运行中的其它因素,对电动力绳系的设计和降轨策略提出了建议。     

Coupling between structural deformation and attitude motion of large planar space structures suspended by multi-tethers

A planar space structure suspended by multi-tethers is one candidate for large and lightweight structures. For such flexible structures, coupling phenomena between structural deformation and attitude motion must be considered. In the present paper, the dynamic characteristics of a planar structure suspended by multi-tethers are investigated. Simulation results reveal that the coupling occurs for low tether stiffness. In addition, it is shown that the coupling can also occur if a number of the tethers become slack. Thermal deformation of the planar structure is one cause of tether slack. Thermal deformation and the induced attitude motion are also investigated. It is shown that roll and yaw motions become unstable due to thermal deformation. Finally, we modify the condition of the connection between sub-panels in order to reduce the overall thermal deformation, and it is confirmed that large deformation can be inhibited by the modification.