Propulsionless planar phasing of multiple satellites using deep reinforcement learning

This work creates a framework for solving highly non-linear satellite formation control problems by using model-free policy optimisation deep reinforcement learning (DRL) methods. This work considers, believed to be for the first time, DRL methods, such as advantage actor-critic method (A2C) and proximal policy optimisation (PPO), to solve the example satellite formation problem of propellantless planar phasing of multiple satellites. Three degree-of-freedom simulations, including a novel surrogate propagation model, are used to train the deep reinforcement learning agents. During training, the agents actuated their motion through cross-sectional area changes which altered the environmental accelerations acting on them. The DRL framework designed in this work successfully coordinated three spacecraft to achieve a propellantless planar phasing manoeuvre. This work has created a DRL framework that can be used to solve complex satellite formation flying problems, such as planar phasing of multiple satellites and in doing so provides key insights into achieving optimal and robust formation control using reinforcement learning.     

Formation flying reconfiguration manoeuvres via environmental forces in highly elliptical orbits

A study on reconfiguration manoevres applied to a tetrahedral formation in highly elliptical orbits is proposed, by using a propellantless solution. The manoeuvring strategy consists in exploiting certain environmental forces, specifically those provided by solar radiation pressure and atmospheric drag, by actively controlling the satellites’ attitudes. Through inverse dynamics particle swarm optimization the optimal attitudes required for the manoeuvres are evaluated, whereas the configuration’s evolution is simulated by a high-fidelity orbital simulator. The goal of the reconfiguration problem is to find an optimal control in order for the four spacecraft to reach a desired configuration in a specified portion of orbit, where the desired configuration is evaluated by a shape and size geometric parameter. By increasing the manoeuvring time and the satellites’ area to mass ratio, all the case studies considered are successfully verified.     

InfraRed Astronomy Satellite Swarm Interferometry (IRASSI): Overview and study results

The far-infrared (FIR) regime is one of the few wavelength ranges where no astronomical data with sub-arcsecond spatial resolution exist yet. Neither of the medium-term satellite projects like SPICA, Millimetron or OST will resolve this malady. For many research areas, however, information at high spatial and spectral resolution in the FIR, taken from atomic fine-structure lines, from highly excited carbon monoxide (CO) and especially from water lines would open the door for transformative science. These demands call for interferometric concepts. We present here first results of our feasibility study IRASSI (Infrared Astronomy Satellite Swarm Interferometry) for an FIR space interferometer. Extending on the principal concept of the previous study ESPRIT, it features heterodyne interferometry within a swarm of five satellite elements. The satellites can drift in and out within a range of several hundred meters, thereby achieving spatial resolutions of <0.1 arcsec over the whole wavelength range of 1–6 THz. Precise knowledge on the baselines will be ensured by metrology methods employing laser-based optical frequency combs, for which preliminary ground-based tests have been designed by members of our study team. We first give a motivation on how the science requirements translate into operational and design parameters for IRASSI. Our consortium has put much emphasis on the navigational aspects of such a free-flying swarm of satellites operating in relatively close vicinity. We hence present work on the formation geometry, the relative dynamics of the swarm, and aspects of our investigation towards attitude estimation. Furthermore, we discuss issues regarding the real-time capability of the autonomous relative positioning system, which is an important aspect for IRASSI where, due to the large raw data rates expected, the interferometric correlation has to be done onboard, in quasi-real-time. We also address questions regarding the spacecraft architecture and how a first thermomechanical model is used to study the effect of thermal perturbations on the spacecraft. This will have implications for the necessary internal calibration of the local tie between the laser metrology and the phase centres of the science signals and will ultimately affect the accuracy of the baseline estimations.     

目标机动条件下的定点伴飞控制方法研究

对目标机动条件下的定点伴飞控制进行了研究。根据相对运动关系,建立适于伴飞模式的相对运动方程,将目标机动大小作为未知量加入相对运动方程,构建不确定系统。用LQR和Lyapunov法结合的方式设计相应定点伴飞控制律。理论证明了在目标机动时该控制律仍能实现系统的渐近稳定。仿真结果验证了该控制律的有效性。     

Discrete time multiple spacecraft formation flying attitude optimal control in presence of relative state constraints

This paper addresses the challenge of synchronized multiple spacecraft attitude reorientation in presence of pointing and boundary constraints with limited inter-spacecraft communication link. Relative attitude pointing constraint among the fleet of spacecraft has also been modeled and considered during the attitude maneuvers toward the desired states. Formation fling control structure that consists of decentralized path planners based on virtual structure approach joint with discrete time optimal local controller is designed to achieve the mission’s goals. Due to digital computing of spacecraft’s onboard computer, local optimal controller based on discrete time prediction and correction algorithm has been utilized. The time step of local optimal algorithm execution is designed so that the spacecraft track their desired attitudes with appropriate error bound. The convergence of the proposed architecture and stability of local controller’s tracking error within appropriate upper bound are proved. Finally, a numerical simulation of a stereo imaging scenario is presented to verify the performance of the proposed architecture and the effectiveness of the algorithm.     

辐射开环空间绳系机器人编队动力学及控制

提出了一种新型辐射开环空间绳系机器人编队系统,其在编队稳定性、任务灵活性及燃料消耗等方面具有明显的优势。针对辐射开环空间绳系机器人编队系统自旋运动过程中的构型误差控制问题,首先建立了编队系统的自旋动力学模型;然后分析了空间绳系机器人的绳系拉力和空间平台的自旋扭矩对编队系统自旋运动中出现的构型误差的控制能力;设计了一种依靠空间绳系机器人绳系拉力和空间平台自旋扭矩作为控制量,对构型误差进行控制的协调控制方法;最后通过数字仿真进行了校验和分析。仿真结果表明：设计的协调控制方法能够明显改善编队系统自旋运动中构型误差的控制效果。     

深空环境下卫星编队飞行队形重构实时重规划

针对深空环境中卫星编队自主队形重构的机动问题,设计了队形重构过程中的实时重规划方案。在每次重规划过程中首先用Legendre伪谱法将当前时刻到终端时刻的重构问题离散化为非线性规划问题;其次,根据卫星编队飞行队形重构的特点,使用协同进化粒子群(CPSO)方法对每次重规划进行求解,该方法既避免了传统优化方法对复杂问题梯度的求解,又能在整个优化过程中保证约束条件的满足,并且能够事先为粒子群的进化提供大致方向,极大地提高了每次重规划的计算速度;最后,提出了重构过程中具体的重规划策略,以保证队形重构的顺利进行。仿真结果表明,与传统的控制方法相比,在重构过程中,该方法能够在初始给定轨迹的基础上进一步优化,可以有效降低重构过程的能量消耗,并能够避免重构过程中碰撞的发生。     

星载GPS的毫米级编队卫星相对定位

在比较分析编队卫星相对定位与陆地相对定位技术的基础上,结合陆地相对定位技术和 卫星精密定轨技术提出了基于GPS进行编队卫星相对定位的方法及原理。文章采用2004年4月 1日到10日的GRACE卫星实测数据进行了相对定位计算,并采用KBR观测数据对本文相对定位 结果和JPL单独定轨结果进行了外部检核,检核结果表明：1. 与直接采用单独定轨结果相 比,该方法可以明显提高卫星的相对位置精度。2. 利用本文方法计算的两颗GRACE卫星相 对位置精度约为4.5 mm。
     

电推进卫星角动量卸载研究

电推进卫星需要在进行位置保持的同时通过将推力器的指向略微偏离质心来产生控制力矩,完成角动量卸载。针对该问题,文章在给定推力器开机位置、时长和动量轮目标卸载量的情况下,提出了正常模式和故障模式下的角动量卸载算法。通过对推力模型的简化,得出了推力器最优偏转方向的解析解,并对考虑推力器弧段损失和不考虑弧段损失的角动量卸载算法进行了比较。仿真结果表明,所提出的卸载算法能够在进行位置保持的同时完成角动量卸载,为电推进卫星的在轨控制策略提供了有效解决方案。