A Methodology for Computing Link Availability

An efficient and systematic numerical technique is presented for predicting availability of an RF link between a ground station and a communication satellite. This new methodology takes into account the effects of weather and time-varying link geometry caused by satellite motion as well as the customary ground/satellite link parameters. The availability computed under the worst link geometry (5 deg elevation) has been compared with the average availability computed with the new methodology. The results indicate that the traditional worst-case design approach is too pessimistic to provide a realistic design criterion where links operate at K band or above.     

Earth Footprints of Satellite Antennas

This paper develops the expressions for computing the footprint on Earth (i.e., power density contours) of a satellite antenna. The expression for determining the antenna pattern coordinate as a function of the Earth coordinates is derived. The antenna pattern operator which converts the pattern function into the available power density is obtained. In this case it is assumed that the Earth-based antenna is directed towards the satellite. The radar operator is also derived; this operator yields the power density intercepted by the Earth.     

Rosette Constellations of Earth Satellites

Satellite constellations having rosette (flowerlike) orbital patterns are described which exhibit better worldwide coverage properties than constellations previously reported in U.S. literature. The best rosettes with 5-15 satellites are identified and evaluated relative to prior results. In most cases, the best results are obtained by placing one satellite in each of N separate planes and by using inclined rather than polar orbits. Coverage properties of these constellations are analyzed in terms of the largest possible great circle range between an observer anywhere on the Earth's surface and the nearest subsatellite point. When evaluated in this manner, coverage properties are invariant with deployment altitude. As deployment altitude is reduced, however, higher order constellations must be used to maintain a fixed minimum viewing angle. Coverage properties are also invariant with deployment orientation relative to Earth coordinates, although specific orientations can cause the satellite patterns to appear quasi-stationary. Thus these constellations offer a promising alternative to the use of geostationary satellites. Rosette constellations can also be used to guarantee multiple satellite visibility on a continuous worldwide basis. It is shown that 5, 7, 9, and 11 satellites are the minimum numbers required for single, double, triple, and quadruple visibility, respectively. Examples of rosette constellations which achieve these bounds are given.     

Nonsaturating Satellite Open-Loop Feedback Controls

The dynamics of a zero-momentum three-axis attitude controlled satellite is used to formulate an optimal control problem, which is then solved for the special case where the flywheels operate in a nonsaturating mode. The results then serve as guidelines in the design of simple open-loop and feedback controllers.     

分布式卫星干涉测高系统编队构形优化设计方法

 分布式卫星干涉合成孔径雷达（InSAR）编队构形设计是系统总体设计的关键问题。从系统测高性能优化角度出发,提出分布式InSAR编队优化设计一般方法,将其概括为求解一个优化问题,以主星带辅星群体制分布式InSAR为例建立目标函数,针对其星载双站、斜视、空间基线等特点建立测高精度与辅星轨道根数的关系,基于近似的相对运动数学模型对该优化问题进行简化,并采用遗传算法求解。在此基础上,对多颗卫星组成编队以提高系统测高性能提出了一种多星编队设计方法。仿真分析表明,经优化得到的编队测高性能要优于干涉车轮和钟摆编队,该结果验证了优化设计方法的有效性和正确性。     

空间信息网络中面向双卫星的频谱共享方法

认知无线电能为缓解空间信息网络中日益增长的服务需求与紧张的频谱资源之间的矛盾提供有效的解决途径。论文针对静止轨道卫星系统和低轨道卫星系统提出一种基于频率动态分配的频谱共享方法。基于用户信号质量最差场景的干扰分析,定义波束隔离区域以避免同频干扰。此外,针对卫星运动引起的时空动态性,通过卫星星历、频率配置方案以及天线方向图等共享信息来预测可能出现的干扰,在此基础上提出频率动态分配算法来实现频谱共享。仿真结果表明,频谱共享方法在保护主用户的同时可有效提高次级用户的信号质量。     

基于应力强度干涉理论和薄弱环节分析的光子晶体光纤陀螺寿命评估

在空间飞行环境中,航天器承受着各种环境的作用,而每种环境因素都在一定程度上影响着航天器的工作寿命。光子晶体光纤是一种新型光纤,其比传统保偏光纤更耐辐照,是长寿命光纤陀螺(Fiber Optical Gyroscope,FOG)的首选,可以满足长寿命卫星的应用需要。将光纤陀螺特征寿命定义为强度,将热、辐照和振动等环境因素定义为应力,运用应力强度分析理论,采用最坏情况分析方法,分析了在常见应力联合作用下光纤陀螺的薄弱环节,评估了光纤陀螺的在轨工作寿命,验证了光子晶体光纤陀螺在某长寿命通信卫星上的适应性。分析结果表明,热和辐照是影响光子晶体光纤陀螺的重要因素。研究结论可用于有针对性地进行改进设计,为长寿命高可靠卫星提供技术支撑,具有显著意义。     

Scan Beam Antenna Intermodulation Improvement Due to Spatial Dispersion

In the recent development of scan beams for application tomobile satellite or thin route communication systems, theintermodulation (IM) generated by the element amplifiers isspatially dispersed, such that some of the IM radiated energy failsoutside the intended beam area. In addition, some of the IM fallinginside the beam area have frequencies different from the carriersintended for that area.It is shown that for systems with frequency reuse, an average IM noise reduction of several dB can he realized. The improvementin carrier-to-IM noise ratio can be used to increase system capacity,or for given capacity it can be used to reduce RF power amplifierbackoff, which can be translated into a reduction of spacecraftprime power requirement.     

A Novel Stable Clustering Design Method for Hierarchical Satellite Network

This article proposes a novel stable clustering design method for hierarchical satellite network in order to increase its stability, reduce the overhead of storage and exert effective control of the delay performances based on a 5-dimensional vector model. According to the function of stability measurement and owing to the limitation of minimal average routing table length, the hierarchical satellite network is grouped into separate stable connected clusters to improve destruction resistance and reconstruction ability in the future integrated network. In each cluster, redundant communication links with little contribution to network stability and slight influences on delay variation are deleted to satisfy the requirements for stability and connectivity by means of optimal link resources, and, also, the idea of logical weight is introduced to select the optimal satellites used to communicate with neighboring cluster satellites. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by comparing it with the simulated performances of other two typical hierarchical satellite networks, double layer satellite constellation(DLSC) and satellite over satellite(SoS).     

High-precision control of the observation satellite with small power consumption

An unified method of the control, orientation and stabilization is proposed; the method allows an observation satellite (OS) to be brought in the sliding mode with a specified accuracy and in a required time to the necessary angular terminal position in the conditions of the limited indefinite external disturbances. The method minimizes power consumption for control. An approach for regulation of the frequency and amplitude of steady-state control oscillations is presented.     

Ambiguity Resolution for Satellite Doppler Positioning Systems

The implementation of satellite-based Doppler positioning systems frequently requires the recovery of transmitter position from a single pass of Doppler data. The least-squares approach to the problem yieds conjugate solutions on either side of the satellite subtrack. It is important to develop a procedure for choosing the proper solution which is correct in a high percentage of cases. A test for ambiguity resolution which is the most powerful in the sense that it maximizes the probability of a correct decision is derived. When systematic error sources are properly included in the least-squares reduction process to yield an optimal solution the test reduces to choosing the solution which provides the smaller valuation of the least-squares loss function. When systematic error sources are ignored in the least-squares reduction, the most powerful test is a quadratic form compasison with the weighting matrix of the quadratic form obtained by computing the pseudoinverse of a reduced-rank square matrix. A formula for computing the power of the most powerful test is provided. Numerical examples are included in which the power of the test is computed for situations that are relevant to the design of a satellite-aided search and rescue system.     

Tolerance design of controllers for switching regulators

An evolutionary approach to worst case tolerance design is introduced here, with a focus on feedback compensation networks for dc-dc switching converters. Assumed that varying parameters values are uniformly distributed and uncorrelated, as provided by the worst case approach, the proposed algorithm, of general applicability, seeks for the set of nominal values and tolerances of the circuit parameters ensuring that the design constraints are met and that a user-defined circuit performance index assumes its optimal value. Design constraints, are fixed in the frequency domain, in terms of acceptability ranges of loop gain crossover frequency and phase margin, to guarantee closed loop stability and the desired dynamic performance. Resistive and capacitive compensation network's parameters values are chosen within a suitable database of couples nominal value/tolerance available on the market, while the nominal values and tolerances of the parameters of the power stage are fixed. Referring to a buck dc-dc switching regulator, two widely used different compensation network topologies are compared in terms of reliability, robustness, and cost of components. Simulation results show the wide usefulness of the proposed method in supporting designer decisions.     

局内电梯调度问题与竞争算法

经典的优化理论大多是在已知条件不变的基础上给出最优方案 (即最优解 ) ,其最优性在条件发生变化时就会失去。局内问题与竞争算法则是针对特定的优化问题来研究这样的方法 ,它在变化因素的每一个特例中都能给出一个方案 ,使得这一方案所得到的解离最优方案给出的解总在一定的比例之内。本文首先提出了局内电梯调度问题 ,设计了解决该问题的两个不同的竞争算法 ,并证明了这两个竞争算法的竞争比分别为k+2 和n-k +1,其中k为电梯的个数 ,n为楼层数。     

惯导/北斗/里程计一体化紧组合导航方法研究

当前,主要通过采用惯导/卫星导航组合或者惯导/里程计组合的方式来实现 车辆的定位定向;卫星信号良好时,惯导系统与卫星导航组合实现车辆定位定向,当卫 星导航信号不好甚至没有信号无法正常工作时,惯导系统与里程计组合实现车辆定位定 向。提出一种惯导/卫星导航/里程计三者的一体化组合方案,针对惯导、北斗、里程计 这三项测量设备构成的组合系统建立了统一的误差状态模型、组合量测模型以及反馈修 正模型,并通过卡尔曼滤波器来实现三者的一体化紧组合,这种惯导/北斗/里程计一体 化的紧组合方式,能更好地实现三者信号之间的充分交流与融合。将这种一体化紧组合 方法与传统的惯导/北斗组合、惯导/里程计组合方法进行了仿真比较,结果表明：惯导/ 北斗/里程计一体化的紧组合方法能更加快速、准确得到传感器误差（ 包含惯组误差、 北斗误差、里程计误差）的在线估计,更能有效提高各传感器的测量精度。     

Performance complexity study of several approaches to automatictarget recognition from SAR images

A framework which allows for the direct comparison of alternate approaches to automatic target recognition (ATR) from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is described and applied to variants of several ATR algorithms. This framework allows comparisons to be made on an even footing while minimizing the impact of implementation details and accounts for variation in image sizes, in angular resolution, and in the sizes of orientation windows used for training. Alternate approaches to ATR are characterized in terms of the best achievable performance as a function of the complexity of the model parameter database. Several approaches to ATR from SAR images are described and the performance achievable by each for a range of database complexities is studied and compared. These approaches are based on a likelihood test under a conditionally Gaussian model, log-magnitude least squared error, and quarter power least squared error. All approaches are evaluated for a wide range of parameterizations and the dependence on these parameters of both the resulting performance and the resulting database complexity is explored. Databases for all of the approaches are trained using identical sets of images and their performance is assessed under identical testing scenarios in terms of probability of correct classification, confusion matrices, and orientation estimation error. The results indicate that the conditionally Gaussian approach outperforms the other two approaches on average for both target recognition and orientation estimation, that accounting for radar power fluctuation improves performance for all three methods, and that the conditionally Gaussian approach normalized for power delivers average performance that is equal or superior to all other considered approaches     

Electrical power on a 30 kW space-based radar satellite

An electrical power system for a space-based radar satellite is described. When the radar is on, its transmitter needs an average DC power of 30 kW. The problem of distributing the power efficiently in pulses to many transmit/receive modules is addressed. System requirements include a high-voltage battery and transmission line, load-sharing between the solar array, and the battery during sunlit periods, and a 25-kW solar array. A scaled-down version of the power system for a proof-of-concept demonstration is described     

Optimum FFT-based frequency acquisition with application toCOSPAS-SARSAT

In the case of a single sinusoid or multiple well-separated sinusoids, a coarse estimator consisting of a windowed Fourier transform followed by a fine estimator which is an interpolator is a good approximation to an optimal frequency acquisition and measurement algorithm. The design tradeoffs are described. It is shown that for the fine-frequency estimator a good method is to fit a Gaussian function to the fast-Fourier-transform (FFT) peak and its two neighbors. This method achieves a frequency standard deviation and a bias in the order of only a few percent of a bin. In the case of short-time stationarity, for a moderate number of averages and for an adaptive threshold detector, only between 0.5 and 1 dB is lost when averaging is traded off for FFT length, in contrast to the asymptotic result of 1.5 dB. The COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system for emergency detection and localization is used to illustrate the concepts. The algorithm is analyzed theoretically, and good agreement is found with test results     

An autonomous celestial navigation method for LEO satellite based on unscented Kalman filter and information fusion

A reliable and secure navigation system and assured autonomous capability of satellite are in high demand in case of emergencies in space. Celestial navigation is a fully autonomous navigation method for satellite. To near earth satellite, the earth direction is the most important measurement and the horizon sensing accuracy is the most important factor which effects celestial navigation accuracy. According to the mode of acquiring horizon measurement, satellite celestial navigation methods can be broadly classified into two approaches: directly sensing horizon using earth sensor and indirectly sensing horizon by observation of starlight atmospheric refraction. For these two methods are complementary to each other, a new Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) based information fusion method is proposed here for hybriding them. Compared to the traditional celestial navigation method, this method can provide better navigation performance and higher reliability. The hardware-in-loop test results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this method, in most cases the accuracy is sufficient for near earth civilian satellite and moreover it can be used as a backup system to provide redundancy.     

An enhanced least squares residual RAIM algorithm based on optimal decentralized factor

The Least Squares Residual (LSR) algorithm is commonly used in the Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM). However, LSR algorithm presents high Missed Detection Risk (MDR) caused by a large-slope faulty satellite and high False Alert Risk (FAR) caused by a small-slope faulty satellite. In this paper, the LSR algorithm is improved to reduce the MDR for a large-slope faulty satellite and the FAR for a small-slope faulty satellite. Based on the analysis of the vertical critical slope, the optimal decentralized factor is defined and the optimal test statistic is conceived, which can minimize the FAR with the premise that the MDR does not exceed its allowable value of all three directions. To construct a new test statistic approximating to the optimal test statistic, the Optimal Decentralized Factor weighted LSR (ODF-LSR) algorithm is proposed. The new test statistic maintains the sum of pseudo-range residual squares, but the specific pseudo-range residual is weighted with a parameter related to the optimal decentralized factor. The new test statistic has the same decentralized parameter with the optimal test statistic when single faulty satellite exists, and the difference between the expectation of the new test statistic and the optimal test statistic is the minimum when no faulty satellite exists. The performance of the ODF-LSR algorithm is demonstrated by simulation experiments.     

Pattern recognition of star constellations for spacecraftapplications

A software system for a star imager for online satellite attitude determination is described. The system works with a single standard commercial CCD camera with a high aperture lens and an onboard star catalog. It is capable of both an initial coarse attitude determination without any prior knowledge of the satellite orientation and a high-accuracy attitude determination based on prediction and averaging of several identified star constellations. In the high-accuracy mode the star image aims at an accuracy better than 2 arc sec with a processing time of less than a few seconds. The star imager has been developed for the Danish Oersted satellite