Differential-game-based guidance law using target orientation observations

Modern 4th generation air-to-air missiles are quite capable of dealing with today's battlefield needs. Advanced aerodynamics, highly efficient warheads and smart target acquisition systems combine to yield higher missile lethality than ever. However, in order to intercept highly maneuverable targets, such as future unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV), or to achieve higher tracking precision for missiles equipped with smaller warheads, further improvement in the missile guidance system is still needed. A new concept is presented here for deriving improved differential-game-based guidance laws that make use of information about the target orientation, which is acquired via an imaging seeker. The underlying idea is that of using measurements of the target attitude as a leading indicator of target acceleration. Knowledge of target attitude reduces the reachable set of target acceleration, facilitating the computation of an improved estimate of the zero-effort miss (ZEM) distance. In consequence, missile guidance accuracy is significantly improved. The new concept is applied in a horizontal interception scenario, where it is assumed that the target maneuver direction, constituting a partial attitude information, can be extracted via processing target images, acquired by an imaging sensor. The derivation results in a new guidance law that explicitly exploits the direction of the target acceleration. The performance of the new guidance law is studied via a computer simulation, which demonstrates its superiority over existing state-of-the-art differential-game-based guidance laws. It is demonstrated that a significant decrease in the miss distance can be expected via the use of partial target orientation information.     

基于输出反馈的柔性航天器变结构跟踪控制方法

为解决柔性航天器姿态机动的控制问题,给出了基于输出反馈的变结构跟踪控制算法。针对柔性航天器的大角度机动,在建立了柔性航天器相对参考轨迹的动力学方程的基础上,设计了仅利用航天器本体的角度和角速度信息的变结构跟踪控制器,使得姿态状态跟踪误差(包括姿态跟踪误差和姿态角速度跟踪误差)以及挠性附件的模态变量从任意的初始状态出发都会到达包含原点的一个闭集内,并且姿态状态跟踪误差能收敛到零,并给出了严格的数学证明。仿真结果证明了所提控制方法的可行性和有效性。     

基于神经网络的无人直升机姿态控制系统设计

首先根据模型参考自适应控制理论,将模型逆与在线神经网络结合,设计了神经网络自适应姿态控制系统。接着叙述反馈线性化及模型逆理论,分析系统的模型跟踪误差动力特性,设计神经网络控制器及在线算法。然后以某无人直升机俯仰通道为例,对神经网络姿态控制系统进行仿真。结果表明该系统能够对未建模特性、参数不确定性等引起的模型逆误差进行自适应,而且在传感器输出中具有白噪声时仍然能够获得较好的响应特性。     

Coarse attitude determination from Earth albedo measurements

Attitude estimation algorithms for the Thrusted Vector Mission which determine attitude based on Sun sensor and very coarse albedo sensor measurements are presented. On the basis of these measurements, it has been demonstrated by comparison with more accurate gyro-based attitude that it is possible to estimate three-axis attitude with an average error per axis of 11 deg. Most of this error is about the Sun direction. Both deterministic quick-look and optimal estimates are examined     

Hypersonic Re-Entry Optical Transfer Equations And Photographic Techniques

Radiation transfer equations applicable to various types of imaging instruments used against distant sources are presented. Emphasis is placed on measurements against point and line radiators made with instruments yielding image spectra. Framing and streaking cameras are discussed in terms of the overall transfer functions of the instrument and sensor. Calibration techniques used for absolute intensity measurements are shown to yield data within a factor of two of the actual value in most cases. The instruments described are of specific use in optical radiometry against bodies penetrating the earth's atmosphere in the hypervelocity regime, and are equally applicable to measurements in a ballistic range. For the problem of tracking these fast-moving objects, imaging instruments are preferred to point detector devices.     

Use of measurements from an imaging sensor for precision targettracking

The extraction of measurements for precision tracking of the centroid of a target from a forward-looking infrared imaging sensor is presented. The size of the image of the target is assumed to be small, i.e. around 10 pixels. The statistical characterization of the centroid of the target is obtained. Similarly, the statistical properties of the image correlation of two frames, which measures the target offset, are derived. Explicit expressions that map the video noise statistics into measurement noise statistics are obtained. The offset measurement noise is shown to be autocorrelated. State variable models for tracking the target centroid with these measurements are then presented. Simulation results and quantitative conclusions about achievable subpixel tracking accuracy are given. It is shown that the filter that models the autocorrelated measurement noise provides the best performance     

The Juno Magnetic Field Investigation

The Juno Magnetic Field investigation (MAG) characterizes Jupiter’s planetary magnetic field and magnetosphere, providing the first globally distributed and proximate measurements of the magnetic field of Jupiter. The magnetic field instrumentation consists of two independent magnetometer sensor suites, each consisting of a tri-axial Fluxgate Magnetometer (FGM) sensor and a pair of co-located imaging sensors mounted on an ultra-stable optical bench. The imaging system sensors are part of a subsystem that provides accurate attitude information (to ～20 arcsec on a spinning spacecraft) near the point of measurement of the magnetic field. The two sensor suites are accommodated at 10 and 12 m from the body of the spacecraft on a 4 m long magnetometer boom affixed to the outer end of one of ’s three solar array assemblies. The magnetometer sensors are controlled by independent and functionally identical electronics boards within the magnetometer electronics package mounted inside Juno’s massive radiation shielded vault. The imaging sensors are controlled by a fully hardware redundant electronics package also mounted within the radiation vault. Each magnetometer sensor measures the vector magnetic field with 100 ppm absolute vector accuracy over a wide dynamic range (to 16 Gauss = \(1.6 \times 10^{6}\mbox{ nT}\) per axis) with a resolution of ～0.05 nT in the most sensitive dynamic range (±1600 nT per axis). Both magnetometers sample the magnetic field simultaneously at an intrinsic sample rate of 64 vector samples per second. The magnetic field instrumentation may be reconfigured in flight to meet unanticipated needs and is fully hardware redundant. The attitude determination system compares images with an on-board star catalog to provide attitude solutions (quaternions) at a rate of up to 4 solutions per second, and may be configured to acquire images of selected targets for science and engineering analysis. The system tracks and catalogs objects that pass through the imager field of view and also provides a continuous record of radiation exposure. A spacecraft magnetic control program was implemented to provide a magnetically clean environment for the magnetic sensors, and residual spacecraft fields and/or sensor offsets are monitored in flight taking advantage of Juno’s spin (nominally 2 rpm) to separate environmental fields from those that rotate with the spacecraft.     

A multisensor tracking system with an image-based maneuver detector

Rapid and reliable decisions about the onset and termination of maneuvers are critical for accurate tracking of maneuvering targets. Given the appropriate filter model, the use of multiple sensors of different capabilities and strengths can improve the quality and the reliability of the tracking system A multisensor tracking system where the usage of the image sensor is two fold is presented. First, if is used to perform maneuver detection using minimum computation and storage. Second, its bearing and elevation measurements are used along with 3-D radar observations to improve the tracking quality. The advantages of the proposed multisensor tracking system are discussed and demonstrated via simulations     

Tracking of planetary terrains

The AFAST project (Autonomously Feature And Star Tracking) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology is engaged in the attitude determination and tracking of the CCD camera pointing direction on future spacecraft missions. Ground based attitude determination is time-consuming and costly. This implies that the attitude determination and the tracking of the pointing direction must be autonomous and rely exclusively on the CCD sensor. Also, distant observations call for autonomy, as relay times to Earth make ground control infeasible. This paper presents a strategy to track the pointing direction on planetary terrains. The strategy utilizes multiple closed contours in a planetary image. It accomplishes tracking by recognizing a constellation of the closed contours. The strategy is adaptable to both spacecraft and missile applications     

基于星敏感器的卫星姿态估计方法研究

以星敏感器姿态信息作为测量数据,结合卫星姿态动力学方程组,采用增广卡尔曼滤波方法对无陀螺卫星姿态进行估计。研究发现,干扰力矩的变化会降低卫星姿态估计结果的精度,为此提出两种改进的姿态估计算法:增广自适应卡尔曼滤波方法和增广强跟踪卡尔曼滤波方法;仿真表明,两种算法都能很好地克服干扰力矩变化导致的精度下降现象。     

大型平台的惯性稳定与地理坐标系姿态跟踪

介绍了一种大型两轴稳定平台的惯性稳定和地理系姿态跟踪原理,建立了稳定平台俯仰框架和横滚框架的运动学模型和动力学模型,进行了稳定平台横滚通道的角速度回路和角位置回路设计,仿真分析了姿态角测量误差作用下的稳定平台姿态跟踪性能,与利用加速度计反馈实现调平的两轴阻尼稳定平台进行对比,比对结果验证了本文设计的控制系统在水平姿态跟踪速度和抗干扰能力上的优势.平台样机进行了姿态跟踪测试,结果验证了结合定位定向系统(POS)的稳定平台惯性稳定和姿态跟踪控制方法可行.     

Tracking of crossing targets with imaging sensors

The authors present an algorithm for the tracking of crossing targets using the centroid measurement and the centroid offset measurement of the distributed image formed by the targets. The measurements are obtained by a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imaging sensor. The joint probabilistic data association merged-measurement coupled filter (JPDAMCF) is used for state estimation which performs filtering in a coupled manner for the targets with common measurements. Two filters are examined: one assuming the displacement noise white and the other one modeling it correctly as autocorrelated. The latter is shown to yield substantially better performance. The proposed algorithm demonstrates the usefulness of the JPDAMCF for tracking crossing targets in combination with the models for the centroid and offset measurements. Even though the centroid offset measurement requires more computations and a more complex model for estimation, it yields significantly better results if the filter accounts for its colored measurement noise     

A Nonlinear Tracker Using Attitude Measurements

The subject of this paper involves tracking the present position of a maneuvering aircraft as well as predicting its future position. A tracking filter is developed that uses aircraft attitude angles (yaw, pitch, roll) in addition to the usual radar measurements. Computer simulation of tracker performance when tracking violently maneuvering aircraft indicates that a dramatic improvement is obtained by using attitude information. The approach taken is to develop a 12-or 15-state extended Kalman filter that models both translational and rotational degrees of freedom. By measuring and estimating attitude it is possible to approximately determine the magnitude and direction of the force system acting on the vehicle and therefore determine vehicle linear acceleration. Knowledge of acceleration is then used to improve the estimate of present and future position of the vehicle being tracked. Simulation of a T-38 aircraft performing a 5 g turn indicates that the new tracker produces maximum trajectory prediction errors that are 36 percent of the errors experienced by more conventional trackers.     

基于帧间角距匹配的跟踪模式星图识别

为了提高星敏感器的跟踪匹配速率,提高星敏感器姿态更新率,本文提出了一种基于帧间角距匹配的跟踪模式星图识别方法.该方法充分利用上一时刻的角距匹配信息构建了一个实时跟踪星库,并把当前时刻的角距信息在实时跟踪星库中进行匹配识别,识别成功后利用识别时用到的信息对实时跟踪星库进行更新.仿真实验表明,该方法具有匹配时间短、匹配成功率高的优点.     

ATS-6 Interferometer

The Applications Technology Satellite-6 (ATS-6) RF interferometer is utilized primarily as a precision 3-axis attitude sensor having an unambiguous field of view of 350°. This function requires two separated ground transmitters, each using one of the two available frequency channels or sharing a single channel by time multiplexing. For 3-axis control, one uplink transmitter can provide 2-axis attitude (pitch and roll) with other sensors (e.g., a Polaris tracker) providing yaw attitude. By utilizing two uplink transmitters and the Earth sensor or three time multiplexed uplink transmitters, the interferometer can also provide measurements of ATS-6 spacecraft orbit position. Uplink frequencies are 6.150 and 6.155 GHz. The receiving antennas are spaced at 19.95 wavelengths (?) for the vernier baseline and 1.66 ? for the coarse baseline. Spacecraft system weight is 8.39 kg (18.5 lb) and power requirement is 15.5 W. Flight evaluation results are given for the interferometer including R F link budgets, modulation of uplink carrier, signal-to-noise ratio, and dropout behavior. A hardware calibration model is described, containing major biases in the phase measurements. Techniques for flight calibration as both an attitude and spacecraft position sensor are outlined . Flight testing has shown that on-line calibration of receiver/converter biases must be performed on a short term routine basis. Interferometer resolution was found to be 0.00140 space angle with negligible noise (jitter) at transmitted power levels above 72 dBW. As an attitude sensor, the interferometer has demonstrated the ability to provide stabilization to better than 0.     

Analytical Steady State Solution for a Kalman Tracking Filter

Analytical expressions are given for the steady state solution to a Kalman tracking filter used in a track-while-scan radar system. The radar sensor measures range and range rate, and both these measurements are utilized in the filter. The solution for range measurements only is obtained as a special case. Graphs are also given which show how the solution depends on different parameters.     

Periodic acoustic source tracking using propagation delayed measurements

There exist a large class of acoustic sources which have an underlying periodic phenomenon. Unlike the well-studied Bearings-Only Tracking(BOT) of an aperiodic acoustic source,this paper considers the problem of tracking a periodic acoustic source. For periodic acoustic tracking, the signal emission time is known. However, the true measurement reception time is unknown because it is corrupted by noise due to propagation delay. We augment the sensor’s signal reception time onto bearing measuremen...     

适合航天飞机应用的星体跟踪器

本文推导了航天飞机采用新型探测器件——电荷耦合器件CCD（ChargeCoupled DeVices）组成的星体跟踪器进行姿态稳定的公式。并提供一种适合航天飞机应用的星体跟踪器原理样机。     

基于MLR的机动平台传感器误差配准算法

 基于固定平台传感器误差极大似然配准(MLR)算法,针对机动平台存在姿态角系统误差的问题,提出了对机动平台传感器系统误差和目标状态进行批处理离线估计的机动极大似然配准(MLRM)算法.该算法利用所有传感器对目标的量测值,通过把传感器量测向目标状态进行投影、对传感器系统误差和目标状态进行期望最大化迭代以及对目标的状态进行融合估计,最终实现量测、姿态角系统误差和目标状态的有效估计.仿真结果表明,该算法迭代收敛速度快,对系统误差估计精度高,对系统误差可观测性较低的配准环境的适应性强并且对传感器姿态角的相关性不敏感,具有很强的工程实用性.     

航天器有限时间自适应姿态跟踪容错控制

非刚体航天器存在时变的惯量、执行器完全失效或衰退故障以及外界干扰的情况,提出一种有限时间自适应姿态跟踪容错控制方法。首先,基于有限时间理论和自适应方法,设计惯量不确定性自适应估计项和外界干扰参数自适应估计项进行系统补偿,克服惯量不确定性和抑制外界干扰;然后,基于容错控制和双幂次方法,设计一种自适应有限时间姿态跟踪容错控制算法,并且利用Lyapunov稳定性理论证明所提算法能够保证航天器姿态跟踪系统实际有限时间稳定;最后,对仿真结果进行验证。结果表明:所提有限时间姿态跟踪容错控制方法是有效的。