Hybrid Control Strategies for Rapid, Large Angle Satellite Slew Maneuvers

Abstract

This research investigated hybrid control strategies for rapid satellite pointing. First, a detailed computer simulation model of AFIT's SIMSAT satellite simulator was constructed. Control strategies were developed to enable the system to perform large-angle, 3-axis slewing maneuvers using a combination of both thrusters and reaction wheels. To handle the non-linear model, a State Dependent Riccati Equation controller was programmed and successfully controlled the computer-modeled satellite for any given slewing maneuver. A simpler PD controller was then programmed and demonstrated on the computer simulation of SIMSAT, using a combination of thruster and reaction wheel control inputs for large-angle single axis maneuvers and for small angles using three-axis control. There was good agreement between the experimentally obtained maneuver results and those produced with the computer simulation model for the single-axis case. Lastly, the trade-off between settling time and thruster fuel is discussed, as well as the variation of gains required to achieve maximum performance for a desired slew.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA412869

Entities

People

  • David B. French

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Computational Science
  • Computer Simulations
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Differential Equations
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Linear Differential Equations
  • Maneuvers
  • Nonlinear Differential Equations
  • Riccati Equation
  • Simulators
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers