空间机器人研究进展及技术挑战

空间机器人是实现空间操控自动化和智能化的使能手段之一,在无人及载人的空间科学探索活动中至关重要。首先,回顾了国际空间站舱内外机器人、中国空间站机器人、在轨自由飞行空间机器人等几类轨道空间机器人工程应用现状,以及已成功在轨应用月面机器人和火星机器人两类星表机器人系统的应用现状。其次,针对空间机器人后续日益复杂的任务需求,探讨了空间机器人在机构构型、关节驱动、末端操作、感知认知、行走移动、动力学与控制等方面面临的技术挑战。然后,论述了空间机器人在多臂、超冗余、柔性化、可重构、仿生等新型机构构型方面的探索,介绍了空间机器人主动、被动柔顺关节方面的研究进展,论述了空间机器人末端执行器在专用化工具及通用化多指灵巧手两个方向的研究进展,总结了星表机器人在新型移动机构构型、高自主导航方面的研究进展,介绍了空间机器人在多传感器集成融合、力与触觉感知方面的研究进展,论述了空间机器人在多臂协调控制、柔顺控制、漂浮基座抓捕动力学控制等方面的研究进展。最后,展望了空间机器人在空间目标抓捕与移除、高价值飞行器在轨服务与维修、空间大型构件在轨组装及星球科学探测等方面的应用前景。     

Hubble Space Telescope solar array change-out, mission anomaliesand returned flight hardware

During the successful First Servicing Mission on the Hubble Space Telescope the two solar arrays were replaced with new and improved solar arrays. An electrical short and four solar array mechanical system anomalies occurred: (1) the upper outer bistem on the +V2 wing had developed kinks and then failed to retract; (2) additional friction between the solar array latch fitting and the aft latch berthing microswitch guard probably caused the failure of the primary deployment mechanism to deploy the solar array wings; (3) the secondary deployment mechanism retract limit microswitch activation is believed to be a result of the dynamic motion of the wings during the retraction event. Successful retraction took place after five attempts; and (4) additional torques induced during extra vehicular activity, flight support system and orbiter activities caused the wings to move from the latching destination. The physical appearance and durability of the materials on the solar array and the physical position of hardware indicators were investigated at Kennedy Space Center after the flight servicing mission. Evidence of micrometeoroid damage and the darkened silicone coatings were apparent. Isolation and continuity tests confirmed the location of shorts which occurred during the First Servicing Mission     

Hubble Space Telescope at twelve years of age

The Hubble Space Telescope was deployed from the Space Shuttle Discovery into a 380-mile high Earth orbit on April 25, 1990. It subsequently made outstanding astronomical discoveries with its 8-foot (2.4-meter) telescope and other scientific instruments. Critical to the successful observations was continuous availability of power from its solar arrays during sunlit periods, and from nickel-hydrogen batteries when the satellite was in the Earth's shadow. The adopted nickel-hydrogen batteries were carefully selected and tested to confirm their depth-of-discharge and operating temperature that delivered the longest life in charge/discharge cycling service. These batteries had a design life of 7 years. At 12 years after launch the Hubble batteries have delivered more charge/discharge cycles than any other batteries in low-Earth orbit. However, the Hubble batteries have been subjected to many unexpected stresses, and peculiar reductions in battery capacity have been observed. Battery replacement requires a costly trip to the Hubble Space Telescope by astronauts, so the remaining useful life of the batteries must be predicted. Already in four servicing missions, astronauts have replaced or modified optics, solar arrays, a power control unit, and various science packages. A fifth servicing mission is scheduled in 2004. This paper discusses battery charging hardware and software controls, history of battery events in Hubble, cell performance model and spare battery tests, and capacity walkdown.     

空间站柔性展开机构仿真方法研究

空间站展开机构是典型的大型多柔体系统,其展开收拢过程涉及非线性大变形以及接触碰撞问题。首先采用绝对节点坐标法作为柔性体的建模方法,建立了梁单元的有限元单元格式,然后基于拉格朗日方法和Hertz接触理论建立了考虑接触碰撞问题的柔性多体系统动力学方程,采用向后差分方法数值求解柔性多体系统的微分代数方程,最后以自由梁、简支梁和柔性单摆进行数学仿真验证。结果表明,该方法可用作我国空间站大型柔性太阳电池翼的设计分析参考。     

Flexible piloted Mars missions using the TIHTUS engine

The present investigation points out the potential of continuously propelled spacecraft for piloted Mars missions and compares them to impulsive propulsion (chemical and nuclear thermal) and ballistic trajectories. Although the results are related to piloted Mars missions, the stated issues raised hold true for a broad range of space missions. It is demonstrated that the use of impulsive propulsion leads to inflexible missions and may result in long total mission durations. Meanwhile, the use of continuous electric propulsion not only guarantees short total mission durations of Mars missions with moderate masses but also results in highly flexible missions. These criteria can be met with a continuous electric propulsion system that provides a thrust level of 100 N and 3000 s of specific impulse. Great potential lies in electric hybrid thrusters. The high-power, two-stage hybrid plasma thruster TIHTUS is currently being developed at the Institute of Space Systems (IRS). Its technology including preliminary laboratory testing results are presented.     

High precision attitude dynamic tracking control of a moving space target

On-orbit spacecraft face many threats, such as collisions with debris or other spacecraft.Therefore, perception of the surrounding space environment is vitally important for on-orbit spacecraft.Spacecraft require a dynamic attitude tracking ability with high precision for such missions.This paper aims to address the above problem using an improved backstepping controller.The tracking mission is divided into two phases: coarse alignment and fine alignment.In the first phase,a traditional saturation controller is utilized to limit the maximum attitude angular velocity according to the actuator's ability.For the second phase, the proposed backstepping controller with different virtual control inputs is applied to track the moving target.To fulfill the high precision attitude tracking requirements, a hybrid attitude control actuator consisting of a Control Moment Gyro(CMG) and Reaction Wheel(RW) is constructed, which can simultaneously avoid the CMG singularity and RW saturation through the use of an angular momentum optimal management strategy, such as null motion.Finally, five simulation scenarios were carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy and hybrid actuator.     

Flexible Solar Cell Arrays for Increased Space Power

The importance of solar cells for space power supplies continues with increased emphasis. The need for advances in the design of solar cell arrays becomes more pressing as the requirement for increased power levels is apparent. This paper discusses a flexible solar cell concept, includes a brief history of the development, describes a conceptual design for a 20-kW array, giving weight breakdown, and describes an existing design effort.     

STEREO Space Weather and the Space Weather Beacon

The Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) is primarily a solar and interplanetary research mission, with one of the natural applications being in the area of space weather. The obvious potential for space weather applications is so great that NOAA has worked to incorporate the real-time data into their forecast center as much as possible. A subset of the STEREO data will be continuously downlinked in a real-time broadcast mode, called the Space Weather Beacon. Within the research community there has been considerable interest in conducting space weather related research with STEREO. Some of this research is geared towards making an immediate impact while other work is still very much in the research domain. There are many areas where STEREO might contribute and we cannot predict where all the successes will come. Here we discuss how STEREO will contribute to space weather and many of the specific research projects proposed to address STEREO space weather issues. The data which will be telemetered down in the Space Weather Beacon is also summarized here. Some of the lessons learned from integrating other NASA missions into the forecast center are presented. We also discuss some specific uses of the STEREO data in the NOAA Space Environment Center.     

柔性太阳翼在轨热分析

卫星的太阳电池翼在轨的温度状况对其性能和可靠性有着重要的影响。相比于刚性太阳翼,柔性太阳翼有着质量轻,综合性能好,结构也较简单等优点。在考虑了地球红外辐射,地球的太阳反照,太阳辐射加热的前提下,以柔性太阳翼为研究对象,利用I-DEAS TMG建立2种太阳电池有限元模型,分析了柔性太阳翼厚度方向的温差,以及不同太阳高度和工作状态对其在轨温度场的影响。分析结果表明,当飞行器绕轨道飞行进入第2个周期后,太阳电池温度场呈现周期变化特性;柔性太阳翼正反两面温度几乎一致,不会因为厚度方向的温差引起热应力;0°太阳高度角分流状态太阳电池温度最高,温度变化最为剧烈;66°太阳高度角工作状态,太阳电池的温度最低,温度变化最为缓慢;电池板面内温差极小。     

Parameter optimization for torsion spring of deployable solar array system with multiple clearance joints considering rigid–flexible coupling dynamics

In this paper, four novel evaluation indices and corresponding hierarchical optimization strategies are proposed for a deployable solar array system considering panel flexibility and joint clearance. The deployable solar array model consists of a rigid main-body, two panels and four key mechanisms, containing torsion spring mechanism, closed cable loop mechanism, latch mechanism and attitude adjustment mechanism. Rigid and flexible components are established by Nodal Coordinate Formulation and A...     

大展弦比飞机运动稳定性建模及分析

随着飞机设计技术的提高和新型材料的应用,现代飞机气动弹性效应越来越显著,刚体运动和弹性体振动互相解耦的关系不再明显,在分析弹性飞机相关问题时,应该综合地、统一地考虑飞行动力学与气动弹性力学问题。本文在一般体轴系下综合考虑了飞机刚体运动自由度和弹性振动自由度,建立弹性飞机刚弹耦合运动的方程,通过在配平状态下引入小扰动运动假设,以及利用有理函数拟合技术将偶极子格网法计算所得到的频域非定常气动力转化为时域形式,建立了大柔性飞机刚弹耦合小扰动状态空间方程,并对纵向运动稳定性进行分析计算。针对文中构型飞机,运用本文所采用的方法计算所得结果与传统的线性及刚体计算所得结果进行对比分析,非线性计算方法所得颤振速度更小,而且失稳模态亦发生变化,对于飞行力学模态而言,长周期模态稳定性变差,在计算速度范围内出现失稳的现象,由此说明机翼大变形对飞机稳定性所带来的影响。     

挠性空间结构的旋转操纵——鲁棒控制方法

 本文研究刚体-挠体互联的空间结构的旋转操纵,针对挠体的建模参数存在误差的情况给出控制律。为此,本文从Lyapunov稳定性理论出发推导了不定系统的鲁棒控制方法,构造了针对参数不定性,外界输入不定性的控制规律。仿真结果表明该控制规律实际有效。     

Ultra-lightweight space power from hybrid thin-film solar cells

The development of hybrid inorganic/organic thin-film solar cells on flexible, lightweight, space-qualified, durable substrates provides an attractive solution for space power generation with high mass specific power (W/kg). The high-volume, low-cost fabrication potential of organic cells will allow for square miles of solar cell production at one-tenth the cost of conventional inorganic materials. Plastic solar cells take a minimum of storage space and can be inflated or unrolled for deployment. We explore a cross-section of NASA in-house and sponsored research efforts that aim to provide new hybrid technologies that include both inorganic and polymer materials as active and substrate materials. For NASA applications, any solar cell or array technology must not only meet weight and AMO efficiency goals, but also must be durable enough to survive launch and space environments. Also, balance of system technologies must be developed to take advantage of ultra-lightweight solar arrays in power generation systems.     

空间翻滚非合作目标消旋技术发展综述

大量残存太空的空间垃圾对在轨运行航天器的安全构成严重威胁,对其进行主动移除已迫在眉睫。火箭末级、失效卫星等非合作目标已失去姿态调整能力,且长期在失控状态下运行,受太阳光压、重力梯度等摄动力矩及失效前自身残余角动量等因素的影响往往会出现翻滚运动。对翻滚非合作目标直接捕获存在碰撞风险,为降低风险系数采取消旋后再捕获是较为合适的方式。在对火箭末级、失效卫星等典型非合作目标运动形式及消旋过程进行分析的基础上,综述了目前国内外所提出的接触式及非接触式消旋方法,并对非合作目标翻滚运动测量及动力学参数辨识和消旋控制这两项消旋共性关键技术进行了归纳总结。本综述将为中国空间碎片主动清除技术的发展提供有益参考。     

空间星光测量技术研究发展综述

空间星光测量技术在航天器执行各类任务的过程中发挥着至关重要的作用。简要介绍了空间星光测量技术的基本概念，对典型的空间星光测量敏感器及其应用技术的研究进展进行了总结。通过对比国内外同类型敏感器的主要技术指标，评估了中国当前的研究水平以及与国外的差距。就空间星光测量技术目前存在的低频误差抑制与标校、亚角秒级动态测量精度以及极高精度目标指向测量等关键问题进行了初步分析与探讨。结合空间星光测量技术的研究进展与面临的挑战，对其发展趋势进行了展望，提出了高精度、高动态、多功能、智能化等未来重点研究方向。     

逼近无控旋转目标航天器的混合势函数安全制导

研究了追踪航天器逼近无控旋转目标航天器的安全制导问题，逼近过程中，追踪航天器需要躲避空间中的障碍物，同时需要避免与目标航天器的太阳能电池帆板和天线等附件发生碰撞。建立了视线坐标系下的两航天器间的相对运动方程，采用四元数描述目标航天器的姿态运动。将参考位置设为引力源，设计了吸引势函数。针对安全逼近问题，建立了球面安全区和锥面安全走廊，设计了安全势函数。将障碍物假设为具有一定半径的球体，设计了障碍物势函数。吸引势函数、安全势函数和障碍物势函数一起组成了混合势函数。为了解决整个势场中除参考位置外还可能存在其他局部极小点问题，对混合势函数进行了修正，保证参考位置位于混合势函数的最低点。利用Lyapunov稳定性理论对混合势函数进行了稳定性分析，推得符合要求的控制加速度，使追踪航天器沿着混合势函数的负梯度方向逼近无控旋转目标航天器。最后通过数值仿真验证了该方法的有效性。     

Space power-whats old is new again

The nation is presently seeking smaller and faster space missions that cost less. Furthermore, there is pressure to spin off technologies into the commercial sector as well as spin in technologies to the space program. In this environment, ideas that were dismissed in the past have come to the forefront again. This paper discusses high performance photovoltaic devices, solar dynamic systems, new batteries and power management and distribution schemes. Spin offs of power technologies are impacting aeronautical, terrestrial and naval applications as well. It is believed that interactions with terrestrial commercial industries will lead to deeper understanding of how to reduce space costs as well as increasing quality and reliability     

Mission-driven autonomous perception and fusion based on UAV swarm

Distributed autonomous situational awareness is one of the most important foundation for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) swarm to implement various missions. Considering the application environment being usually characterized by strong confrontation, high dynamics, and deep uncertainty, the distributed situational awareness system based on UAV swarm needs to be driven by the mission requirements, while each node in the network can autonomously avoid collisions and perform detection mission through limited resource sharing as well as complementarity of respective advantages. By efficiently solving the problems of self-avoidance, autonomous flocking and splitting, joint estimation and control, etc., perception data from multi-platform multi-source should be extracted and fused reasonably, to generate refined, tailored target information and provide reliable support for decision-making.     

Energy and power

Energy sources for aerospace systems include electrochemicals, mechanical rotation, solar illumination, radioisotopes, and nuclear reactors. Energy is converted to power with engines, turbines, photovoltaics, thermoelectric and thermionic devices, and electrochemical processes. Although some early spacecraft flew with battery power, for longer flights the choice has been either solar or nuclear. Manned spacecraft must have power for the total mission duration including boost into orbit, on-orbit, and subsequent re-entry. Batteries are too heavy for extended manned space missions; tradeoff study alternatives range from radioisotope heated thermionic converters to hyperbolic-fueled engines. Arrays of solar cells are the obvious choice for powering space stations and for other extended-duration missions. This article emphasizes developments for space and airplane power systems. Enabling technologies are described along with significant spin-offs and future systems