Dynamics and control of spacecraft hovering using the geomagnetic Lorentz force

To achieve hovering, a spacecraft thrusts continuously to induce an equilibrium state at a desired position. Due to the constraints on the quantity of propellant onboard, long-time hovering around low-Earth orbits (LEO) is hardly achievable using traditional chemical propulsion. The Lorentz force, acting on an electrostatically charged spacecraft as it moves through a planetary magnetic field, provides a new propellantless method for orbital maneuvers. This paper investigates the feasibility of using the induced Lorentz force as an auxiliary means of propulsion for spacecraft hovering. Assuming that the Earth’s magnetic field is a dipole that rotates with the Earth, a dynamical model that characterizes the relative motion of Lorentz spacecraft is derived to analyze the required open-loop control acceleration for hovering. Based on this dynamical model, we first present the hovering configurations that could achieve propellantless hovering and the corresponding required specific charge of a Lorentz spacecraft. For other configurations, optimal open-loop control laws that minimize the control energy consumption are designed. Likewise, the optimal trajectories of required specific charge and control acceleration are both presented. The effect of orbital inclination on the expenditure of control energy is also analyzed. Further, we also develop a closed-loop control approach for propellantless hovering. Numerical results prove the validity of proposed control methods for hovering and show that hovering around low-Earth orbits would be achievable if the required specific charge of a Lorentz spacecraft becomes feasible in the future. Typically, hovering radially several kilometers above a target in LEO requires specific charges on the order of 0.1 C/kg.     

Stability of relative equilibria of the full spacecraft dynamics around an asteroid with orbit–attitude coupling

The full dynamics of spacecraft around an asteroid, in which the spacecraft is considered as a rigid body and the gravitational orbit–attitude coupling is taken into account, is of great value and interest in the precise theories of the motion. The spectral stability of the classical relative equilibria of the full spacecraft dynamics around an asteroid is studied with the method of geometric mechanics. The stability conditions are given explicitly based on the characteristic equation of the linear system matrix. It is found that the linearized system decouples into two entirely independent subsystems, which correspond to the motions within and outside the equatorial plane of the asteroid respectively. The system parameters are divided into three groups that describe the traditional stationary orbit stability, the significance of the orbit–attitude coupling and the mass distribution of the spacecraft respectively. The spectral stability of the relative equilibria is investigated numerically with respect to the three groups of system parameters. The relations between the full spacecraft dynamics and the traditional spacecraft dynamics, as well as the effect of the orbit–attitude coupling, are assessed. We find that when the orbit–attitude coupling is strong, the mass distribution of the spacecraft dominates the stability of the relative equilibria; whereas when the orbit–attitude coupling is weak, both the mass distribution and the traditional stationary orbit stability have significant effects on the stability. We also give a criterion to determine whether the orbit–attitude coupling needs to be considered.     

Influence of lunar topography on simulated surface temperature

The surface temperature of the Moon is one of the essential parameters for the lunar exploration, especially to evaluate the Moon thermophysical features. The distribution of the temperature is heavily influenced by the Moon topography, which, however, is rarely studied in the state-of-art surface temperature models. Therefore, this paper takes the Moon topography into account to improve the surface temperature model, Racca model. The main parameters, such as slopes along the longitude and latitude directions, are estimated with the topography data from Chang’E-1 satellite and the Horn algorithm. Then the effective solar illumination model is then constructed with the slopes and the relative position to the subsolar point. Finally, the temperature distribution over the Moon surface is obtained with the effective illumination model and the improved Racca model. The results indicate that the distribution of the temperature is very sensitive to the fluctuation of the Moon surface. The change of the surface temperature is up to 150 K in some places compared to the result without considering the topography. In addition, the variation of the surface temperature increases with the distance from the subsolar point and the elevation, along both latitude and longitude directions. Furthermore, the simulated surface temperature coincides well with the brightness temperature in 37 GHz observed by the microwave sounder onboard Chang’E-2 satellite. The corresponded emissivity map not only eliminates the influence of the topography, but also hints the inherent properties of the lunar regolith just below the surface. Last but not the least, the distribution of the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) in the lunar pole area is also evaluated with the simulated surface temperature result.     

基于球几何特征的摄像机内参分步标定方法

在摄像机标定过程中,球形靶标对图像数量、拍摄角度要求小,能够适应遮挡环境,在使用中具有明显优势.在分析球投影模型几何性质的基础上,提出一种利用球靶标分步标定摄像机内部参数的方法.该方法通过拍摄一幅包含空间中2个不同位置球体的图像,得到图像中的2条投影二次曲线;利用2条投影二次曲线的对称轴和公切线计算球心投影点,通过投影二次曲线的对称轴确定图像主点坐标,根据球心投影点和图像主点的位置关系求解归一化焦距;利用整体优化算法得到内参标定结果.仿真数据实验分析了引入测量误差的主要因素,实物标定结果与平面方格靶标方法相比误差在5%之内,重复测量结果稳定.      

微波衰减测量过程失控的原因分析及解决方案

针对高频串联替代法微波衰减测量标准装置测量过程所出现的失控现象 ,从测量标准仪器、被测仪器、测量方法、人为因素等方面分析了失控的原因 ,制定并实施了相应的解决方案 ,使测量过程恢复到统计受控状态     

对8mm微波衰减参数计量的探讨

随着现代武器装备的更新换代和新型导弹的不断发展以及电子战中电子对抗的应用,对导弹制导雷达的要求越来越高.由于毫米波具有制导精确度高,抗干扰能力强、穿透性能好以及携带的信息量大等独特性能,因此被广泛应用于雷达、射频天线、通讯卫星、导弹等许多尖端领域.为了确保雷达的各项参数满足武器试验的要求,保障试验任务的顺利进行,对雷达的各项参数的计量检定是十分必要的.目前,"全自动8mm微波功率标准”已经建立,但8mm微波衰减参数的计量在军内还是一项空白,而衰减量值的准确与否直接影响到武器和装备性能的好坏,影响试验任务的成败.因此,我们提出了一种对8mm微波衰减参数的计量方法,以供广大从事微波计量工作的同行参考.     

Development of thermal sensors and drilling systems for lunar and planetary regoliths

We consider some novel concepts for thermal properties experiments aboard lunar landers or rovers, that may lead to an improved understanding of both the structure of the lunar near surface layers and the lunar thermal history. The new instruments could be developed using the experience and heritage from recently developed systems, like the Rosetta Lander thermal conductivity experiment MUPUS and existing designs used for terrestrial measurements of thermal conductivity. We describe shortly the working principle of such sensors and the main challenges faced when using them in the airless regolith layers of the Moon or other airless bodies. In addition new concepts to create appropriate drill holes for thermal and other measurements in the lunar regolith are discussed.     

半捷联式导引头视线转率提取算法

捷联式光学导引头的探测装置直接固联于弹体上,许多现有的制导信息处理方法都不再适用.对半捷联式导引头进行研究,根据其与常平架式与捷联式导引头不同的配置方式,推导了滚仰式和偏航俯仰式半捷联导引头视线转率提取算法,并分析了影响半捷联导引头视线转率提取精度的主要因素及误差传递关系,通过Simulink仿真验证了算法的正确性.