Principles of Spacecraft Control: Concepts and Theory for Practical Applications

✍ Scribed by Walter Fichter, Ramin T. Geshnizjani

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 202
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The objective of this textbook is to provide the mathematical models and algorithms needed to develop a thorough understanding of all control system functions of a rigid body spacecraft. Relatively simple, but practically applicable algorithms are presented rather than recent advances. We try to avoid detailed and specialized issues that are of less importance for the fundamental understanding, such as detailed environment models, etc. Furthermore, control problems that can be cast in standard formulations and solved with existing methods are not treated here. Instead, we intend to provide an understanding of the principles, put them in an engineering context, and try to give all explanations as concise as possible. Besides conventional three-axis attitude control systems, the following topics are treated in this book:• Control of agile rotation maneuvers using control moment gyros • Precise pointing control with error classes for pointing instruments • Control systems with accelerometers and free-flying test masses, which provide low-disturbance or disturbance-free environments We believe that these topics are of considerable relevance for the design of future spacecraft control systems, especially in the field of science and Earth observation missions.

✦ Table of Contents

Preface
Contents
Acronyms
List of Symbols
1 System Engineering Basics
1.1 Objectives and Interfaces of Control Systems
1.2 Functional Architecture and Environment
1.2.1 Overview and Terminology
1.2.2 External Disturbances
1.2.3 Sensors
1.2.4 Actuators
1.3 Design Process
1.4 System Design Rules
1.4.1 Performance
1.4.2 Actuator Sizing
1.4.3 Processing and Software
1.4.4 Redundancy
1.5 Budgets and Specifications
1.5.1 Key Parameters
1.5.2 Specific Performance Parameters
References
2 Satellite Motion Models
2.1 Rotational Kinematics
2.1.1 Attitude Parametrization
2.1.2 Conversions
2.1.3 Differential Equations
2.1.4 Two-Axis Inertial Pointing
2.2 Single-Body Spacecraft and Gyrostat
2.2.1 Dynamics of Rotation and Translation
2.2.2 Wheel Dynamics
2.2.3 Gravitational Force and Torque
2.2.4 Multiple Wheels and Summary
2.3 Single-Body Spacecraft with Control Moment Gyros
2.3.1 Rotational Dynamics
2.3.2 Flywheel and Gimbal Dynamics
2.3.3 Summary and CMG Array Dynamics
2.3.4 Singularities
2.4 Multi-Body Spacecraft with Test Mass
2.4.1 Equations of Motion
2.4.2 Discussion
References
3 Rotational State Determination
3.1 Attitude Determination
3.1.1 Concepts and the Two Unit Vector Case
3.1.2 Three or More Unit Vector Measurements
3.2 Angular Rate Estimation
3.3 Attitude Observation and Filtering
3.3.1 Concept of a Kinematic Model
3.3.2 Yaw Observation During Earth Pointing
3.3.3 Model-Based Filtering
References
4 Actuator Commanding
4.1 Reaction Wheel Actuation and Control
4.1.1 Distribution to Individual Wheels
4.1.2 Wheel Momentum Control
4.2 Control Moment Gyro Actuation
4.2.1 CMG Steering Laws
4.2.2 Gimbal Control Loop
4.3 Thruster Selection and Actuation
4.3.1 Torque with Four Thrusters
4.3.2 Force and Torque
4.3.3 Modulation of Single Thrusters
4.4 Magnetic Torquer Actuation
References
5 Attitude and Momentum Control
5.1 Architectures and Concepts
5.2 Nonlinear Attitude and Rate Control
5.2.1 Rate Control
5.2.2 Two-Axis Attitude Acquisition
5.2.3 Three-Axis Attitude Control
5.3 Angular Momentum Control
5.3.1 Motivation and Single Axis Example
5.3.2 Wheel Body Momentum and Nullspace Momentum
5.3.3 Options for Momentum Desaturation
5.3.4 Wheel Body Momentum Control
5.3.5 Nullspace Momentum Control
5.4 Linear Attitude Control
5.4.1 Earth Pointing with Momentum Bias
5.4.2 Precision Pointing Control
References
6 Accelerometers and Drag-Free Control
6.1 Accelerometer
6.2 Drag Compensation
6.3 Drag-Free Control of a Cubic Test Mass
6.3.1 Objective and Principle
6.3.2 Control Loop Structure
6.3.3 Closed Loop and Controller Design
6.4 Notes on Spherical Test Mass
References
7 Closing Remarks
A Coordinate Systems
A.1 Inertial Coordinate System
A.2 Orbit Coordinate System
A.3 Reference Attitude Coordinate System
A.4 Spacecraft Body Coordinate System
B Useful Tools of Applied Mathematics
B.1 Vector Notation and Cross Product Equations
B.2 Singular Value Decomposition
B.3 Concepts of Lyapunov Theory
B.3.1 Time-Invariant Systems
B.3.2 Time-Varying Systems
B.4 Floquet Theory
References
C Gravity-Gradient Force
Index