The adjusted optical properties for Galileo/BeiDou-2/QZS-1 satellites and initial results on BeiDou-3e and QZS-2 satellites

Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) is the dominant non-gravitational perturbation for GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellites. In the absence of precise surface models, the Empirical CODE Orbit Models (ECOM, ECOM2) are widely used in GNSS satellite orbit determination. Based on previous studies, the use of an a priori box-wing model enhances the ECOM model, especially if the spacecraft is a stretched body satellite. However, so far not all the GNSS system providers have published their metadata. To ensure a precise use of the a priori box-wing model, we estimate the optical parameters of all the Galileo, BeiDou-2, and QZS-1 (Quasi Zenith Satellite System) satellites based on the physical processes from SRP to acceleration. Validation using orbit prediction proves that the adjusted parameters of Galileo and QZS-1 satellites exhibit almost the same performance as the corresponding published and “best guess” values. Whereas, the estimated parameters of BeiDou-2 satellites demonstrate an improvement of more than 60% over the initial “guess” values. The resulting optical parameters of all the satellites are introduced into an a priori box-wing model, which is jointly used with ECOM and ECOM2 model in the orbit determination. Results show that the pure ECOM2 model exhibits better performance than the pure ECOM model for Galileo, BeiDou-2 GEO and QZS-1 orbits. Combined with the a priori box-wing model the ECOM model (ECOM+BW) results in the best Galileo, BeiDou-2 GEO and QZS-1 orbits. The standard deviation (STD) of satellite laser ranging residuals reduce by about 20% and 5% with respect to the pure ECOM2 model for Galileo and BeiDou-2 GEO orbits, while the reductions are about 40% and 60% for QZS-1 orbits in yaw-steering and orbit-normal mode respectively. BeiDou-2 IGSO and MEO satellite orbits do not benefit much from the a priori box-wing model. In summary, we suggest setting up a unified SRP model of ECOM+BW for Galileo, QZS-1, and BeiDou-2 orbits based on the adjusted metadata. In addition, we estimate the optical parameters of BeiDou-3e and QZS-2 satellites using a limited number of tracking stations. Results regarding the unified SRP model indicate the same advantages, the STD of satellite laser ranging residuals reduces by about 30% and 20% for QZS-2 and BeiDou-3e orbits respectively over orbit products without a priori model. The estimation procedure is effective and easy to apply to the new emerging satellites in the future.     

A systematic spatial bias in remembering eye positions

Categorical bias in location memory in geometric spaces is well established. The present study assessed the presence of the bias in locating eyes in images of human faces. Participants were presented with digital faces and indicated the position of one of the eyes in both upright and inverted orientations. Biases resulted from participants using multiple sources of accessible information. No differences were found for upright vs. inverted face images. Overall, the data were consistent with the retrieval category adjustment model. These distortions may be considered within the forensic context, when eyewitnesses work with a sketch artist or use a computer program to generate an image of the culprit.     

航天器姿态预设性能控制方法综述

针对存在不确定惯量矩阵及其它未知不确定性(如执行器故障、航天器结构发生突变等)下的航天器姿态控制问题，综述了预设性能控制及其应用的研究进展。首先阐释了预设性能控制方法的基本内涵及其关键步骤；然后分析总结了现有航天器姿态控制以及预设性能控制研究的基本概况与发展趋势；最后面向未来复杂化、智能化的空间任务对航天器控制系统提出的新需求，提出航天器预设性能控制值得研究的问题和方向。     

折叠式变体飞行器轨迹优化及控制分析

针对临近空间高超声速飞行器存在的问题，设计了一种折叠翼飞行器，可以通过折叠机翼来适应各种飞行状态，保持最优的气动特性。并针对临近空间滑翔式高超声速的特点，采用高斯伪谱法对固定翼飞行器和折叠翼飞行器的轨迹优化，通过将折叠翼飞行器与传统固定翼飞行器在射程能力、规避热流能力方面进行对比，提出了一种综合目标的轨迹优化思想。设计的折叠翼飞行器相比传统固定翼飞行器性能更加优越，更适合临近空间环境，提高了17.67%的航程，减少了热流率峰值的35.72%，并通过控制系统的设计和仿真加以验证，仿真结果表明变体飞行器机动能力相比固定翼飞行器有了显著的提高。     

考虑输入饱和的固定翼无人机自适应增益滑模控制

针对复杂环境下的固定翼无人机飞行控制问题，考虑输入饱和以及复杂外界干扰的影响，提出一种基于自适应滑模控制方法的固定翼无人机飞行控制策略。首先，对固定翼无人机模型进行介绍，将模型分为姿态子系统和速度子系统；其次，针对姿态子系统和速度子系统的特点以及控制需求，分别采用自适应多变量螺旋滑模和自适应快速超螺旋滑模设计姿态控制器和速度控制器，该策略无需设计干扰观测器对外界干扰进行估计，仍然可以实现固定翼无人机对姿态参考指令和速度参考指令的有限时间精确跟踪，并基于Lyapunov的稳定性分析方法证明了闭环系统的稳定性。最后，对本文所提出的控制策略进行了仿真验证，结果表明该控制策略具有良好的控制性能。     

An empirical solar radiation pressure model for satellites moving in the orbit-normal mode

We present a family of empirical solar radiation pressure (SRP) models suited for satellites orbiting the Earth in the orbit normal (ON) mode. The proposed ECOM-TB model describes the SRP accelerations in the so-called terminator coordinate system. The choice of the coordinate system and the SRP parametrization is based on theoretical assumptions and on simulation results with a QZS-1-like box-wing model, where the SRP accelerations acting on the solar panels and on the box are assessed separately. The new SRP model takes into account that in ON-mode the incident angle of the solar radiation on the solar panels is not constant like in the yaw-steering (YS) attitude mode. It depends on the elevation angle of the Sun above the satellite’s orbital plane. The resulting SRP vector acts, therefore, not only in the Sun-satellite direction, but has also a component normal to it. Both components are changing as a function of the incident angle. ECOM-TB has been used for precise orbit determination (POD) for QZS-1 and BeiDou2 (BDS2) satellites in medium (MEO) and inclined geosynchronous Earth orbits (IGSO) based on IGS MGEX data from 2014 and 2015. The resulting orbits have been validated with SLR, long-arc orbit fits, orbit misclosures, and by the satellite clock corrections based on the orbits. The validation results confirm that—compared to ECOM2—ECOM-TB significantly (factor 3–4) improves the POD of QZS-1 in ON-mode for orbits with different arc lengths (one, three, and five days). Moderate orbit improvements are achieved for BDS2 MEO satellites—especially if ECOM-TB is supported by pseudo-stochastic pulses (the model is then called ECOM-TBP). For BDS2 IGSOs, ECOM-TB with its 9 SRP parameters appears to be over-parameterized. For use with BDS2 IGSO spacecraft we therefore developed a minimized model version called ECOM-TBMP, which is based on the same axis decomposition as ECOM-TB, but has only 2 SRP parameters and is supported by pseudo-stochastic parameters, as well. This model shows a similar performance as ECOM-TB with short arcs, but an improved performance with (3-day) long-arcs. The new SRP models have been activated in CODE’s IGS MGEX solution in Summer 2018. Like the other ECOM models the ECOM-TB derivatives might be used together with an a priori model.     

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.     

Novel finite-time attitude control of postcapture spacecraft with input faults and quantization

This paper investigates a novel finite-time attitude control method for the postcapture spacecraft with an unknown captured space target in the presence of input faults and quantization. First, a quasi fixed-time convergent performance function is developed to quantitatively characterize the attitude tracking performance. Then, a backstepping prescribed performance attitude controller is devised via using integral barrier Lyapunov function. Compared with the existing works, the fractional state feedback and discontinuous controller is directly avoided to achieve the fixed-time convergence rate. Namely, the proposed fixed-time controller is easily achieved online. Finally, two groups of illustrative examples are organized to validate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control method.     

Neural network-based fault diagnosis for spacecraft with single-gimbal control moment gyros

This paper proposes a neural network-based fault diagnosis scheme to address the problem of fault isolation and estimation for the Single-Gimbal Control Moment Gyroscopes(SGCMGs) of spacecraft in a periodic orbit. To this end, a disturbance observer based on neural network is developed for active anti-disturbance, so as to improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis.The periodic disturbance on orbit can be decoupled with fault by resorting to the fitting and memory ability of neural network. Subsequ...     

改善反作用轮低速性能的补偿观测器方法

基于Ｄａｈｌ摩擦模型,给出了用于卫星姿态三轴稳定控制的反作用轮低速动力学方程,就反作用轮转速过零对卫星姿态产生的扰动现象进行了分析,提出了一种利用非线性观测器估计摩擦力矩,并予以补偿的补偿观测器方法。仿真结果表明,该方法改善了反作用轮低速性能,提高了卫星姿态控制的指向精度和稳定度。