Patent · US Expired

Spacecraft yaw control using only wheel speed measurements processed through a simple filter bank

US5787368A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
18References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 3, 1995
Grant dateJul 28, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 3, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64G1/32
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An attitude or orientation control system for spacecraft that provides for yaw axis error reduction and momentum dumping using a simple calculation involving only the momentum wheel speeds as input and which outputs two axis (roll and yaw) torque commands. The system utilizes the spacecraft 1) momentum wheels that store spacecraft momentum, 2) processing means for the calculation of control torques, and 3) torque actuators, e.g., magnetic torquers, that can provide a torque axis anywhere in the spacecraft roll/yaw plane, and involves three fundamental steps, 1) the input of the momentum wheel speed mearsurements, and 2) the calculation of the required torques, using the wheel speed measurements, and and 3) the outputting of the required torques in a form appropriate for controlling the available actuators.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.