Orienting a satellite with controlled momentum gyros
US6154691A · kind A · utility
24Cited by
17References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/36
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Controlled momentum gyros are rotated to change the attitude of a satellite as rapidly as possible by rotating them along a great circle path on an imaginary spherical surface around the satellite. Adjustments the gyro rotations are made in two directions, along the spherical surface, as the satellite rotates. All the stored angular momentum in the gyros is used to rotate the satellite, rather than limiting the rotation of the gyros to avoid instabilities from singularities in traditional control laws.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.