Instantaneous BeiDou–GPS attitude determination: A performance analysis

The advent of modernized and new global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) has enhanced the availability of satellite based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions. Specifically, it increases redundancy and yields operational back-up or independence in case of failure or unavailability of one system. Among existing GNSS, the Chinese BeiDou system (BDS) is being developed and will consist of geostationary (GEO) satellites, inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites, and medium-Earth-orbit (MEO) satellites. In this contribution, a BeiDou–GPS robustness analysis is carried out for instantaneous, unaided attitude determination.     

基于内模原理的复杂挠性卫星姿态控制研究

首先对具有运动挠性附件的航天器的姿态动力学模型进行了简要讨论和分析,证明了对于受步进扰动的复杂挠性卫星系统,采用输出反馈PD控制仅能得到一致有界稳定的结论。为了获得闭环系统的渐近稳定性能,进一步构造了具有内模补偿的PD控制系统,并且根据Lyapunov理论给出了严格证明。基于美国GOES 8号静止轨道气象卫星公布的动力学参数,对PD控制及含有内模补偿的PD控制两类控制器进行了仿真对比,以校验所设计控制系统的有效性。最后,进行了总结并提出进一步的研究设想。     

Attitude determination of planetary exploration rovers using solar panels characteristics and accelerometer

In this study, we propose a new attitude determination system, which we call Irradiance-based Attitude Determination (IRAD). IRAD employs the characteristics and geometry of solar panels. First, the sun vector is estimated using data from solar panels including current, voltage, temperature, and the normal vectors of each solar panel. Because these values are obtained using internal sensors, it is easy for rovers to provide redundancy for IRAD. The normal vectors are used to apply to various shapes of rovers. Second, using the gravity vector obtained from an accelerometer, the attitude of a rover is estimated using a three-axis attitude determination method. The effectiveness of IRAD is verified through numerical simulations and experiments that show IRAD can estimate all the attitude angles (roll, pitch, and yaw) within a few degrees of accuracy, which is adequate for planetary explorations.     

重力梯度对自由漂浮空间机器人姿态扰动分析

分析重力梯度对在轨运行的自由漂浮空间机器人姿态运动影响。由Lagrange方法建立自由漂浮空间机器人受重力梯度扰动的非线性动力学模型。首先,考虑无控关节自由状态,分析重力梯度对关节运动的影响。其次,利用相平面轨迹分析重力梯度对自由漂浮系统姿态运动影响。最后,由速度偏差曲线分析重力梯度对机械臂的影响。结果表明,当作用时间接近轨道周期或更长时,重力梯度引起的关节偏差已十分显著,且这种扰动作用主要由轨道偏心率决定;关节锁定时俯仰姿态受扰运动有周期振动与翻滚两种形式,若初始角速度满足一定限值可以保证俯仰运动不发生翻滚;当机械臂长时间工作时,忽略重力梯度将产生明显的末端定位误差。     

Nonlinear H∞ based underactuated attitude control for small satellites with two reaction wheels

Underactuated attitude control is supposed to be used on spacecraft when failure happens with onboard actuators. One main problem with existing underactuated attitude control designs is their limited capabilities against disturbances. In order to solve this problem, an approach based on the theory of H∞$H\infty$ is proposed in this paper. Two propositions are derived from the H∞$H\infty$ theory to improve the robustness of one popular underactuated attitude control design, which was presented by Tsiotras et al. It is proved mathematically that the controller satisfying these two propositions respectively can stabilize the underactuated attitude system locally or globally. The numerical simulations show that the improved controllers based on the H∞$H\infty$ theory could provide higher pointing accuracy for small satellites against disturbances. This validates the effectiveness of the proposed H∞$H\infty$ based approach to improve existing underactuated attitude control designs.     

Effects of uncertainties and flexible dynamic contributions on the control of a spacecraft full-coupled model

One of the most important problems for performing a good design of the spacecraft attitude control law is connected to its robustness when some uncertainty parameters are present on the inertial and/or on the elastic characteristics of a satellite. These uncertainties are generally intrinsic on the modeling of complex structures and in the case of large flexible structures they can be also attributed to secondary effects associated to the elasticity. One of the most interesting issues in modeling large flexible space structures is associated to the evaluation of the inertia tensor which in general depends not only on the geometric ‘fixed’ characteristic of the satellite but also on its elastic displacements which of course in turn modify the ‘shape’ of the satellite. Usually these terms can be considered of a second order of magnitude if compared with the ones associated to the rigid part of a structure. However the increasing demand on the dimension of satellites due to the presence for instance of very large solar arrays (necessary to generate power) and/or large antennas has the necessity to investigate their effects on their global dynamic behavior in more details as a consequence. In the present paper a methodology based on classical Lagrangian approach coupled with a standard Finite Element tool has been used to derive the full dynamic equations of an orbiting flexible satellite under the actions of gravity, gravity gradient forces and attitude control. A particular attention has been paid to the study of the effects of flexibility on the inertial terms of the spacecraft which, as well known, influence its attitude dynamic behavior. Furthermore the effects of the attitude control authority and its robustness to the uncertainties on inertial and elastic parameters has been investigated and discussed.     

A hybrid attitude controller consisting of electromagnetic torque rods and an active fluid ring

In this paper, a novel hybrid actuation system for satellite attitude stabilization is proposed along with its feasibility analysis. The system considered consists of two magnetic torque rods and one fluid ring to produce the control torque required in the direction in which magnetic torque rods cannot produce torque. A mathematical model of the system dynamics is derived first. Then a controller is developed to stabilize the attitude angles of a satellite equipped with the abovementioned set of actuators. The effect of failure of the fluid ring or a magnetic torque rod is examined as well. It is noted that the case of failure of the magnetic torque rod whose torque is along the pitch axis is the most critical, since the coupling between the roll or yaw motion and the pitch motion is quite weak. The simulation results show that the control system proposed is quite fault tolerant.     

四轴飞行器姿态监控系统设计

设计了一套四轴飞行器上位机监控系统。针对准确掌握四轴飞行器的实时姿态、位置等信息和对四轴飞行器进行精准控制两大核心问题,开发了由上位机实现四轴飞行器姿态数据采集、通信及控制等功能的监控系统。监控系统良好的功能设计和友好的人机界面使得用户能够准确掌握飞行器的飞行信息,从而能够更精准地控制四轴飞行器飞行姿态。实验验证,监控系统简单实用,性能稳定,精度高,使整个飞行系统抗干扰能力强,鲁棒性、稳定性好。     

星载SAR轨道及姿态误差模型分析

平台轨道及姿态误差模型是星载SAR数据模拟及相应的模拟系统的关键组成部分。简要分析了机载SAR和星载SAR的差异,重点对星载SAR的平台轨道及姿态模型进行了分析,最后对星载SAR回波信号仿真方法进行了分析。     

基于低成本陀螺和倾角仪的姿态估计

针对动中通测控系统中低成本陀螺和倾角仪的姿态估计和陀螺误差校正问题,提出一种利用UKF（Uncented Kalman Filter）滤波器对载体姿态角进行估计,然后利用互补滤波器对陀螺漂移进行估计的算法。该算法通过设计三维完全可观测UKF滤波方程和陀螺误差校正模型对姿态角和陀螺漂移分别进行估计,有效避免了利用卡尔曼滤波进行姿态估计和陀螺漂移误差估计时由于误差模型不准确而产生的发散问题,同时降低了滤波器维数。试验中姿态角估计误差在1°以内,x轴陀螺漂移估计误差为0.0148°/s,y轴陀螺漂移估计误差为0.0017°/s,试验结果表明该算法能有效提高姿态角估计和陀螺漂移估计的精度。