Method for low-fuel, computer-assisted control of any number of thrusters arranged on a spacecraft

US6208915A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimlerchrysler AG · US

Inventors

• Andreas Schutte · Heidenheim, DE
• Kolja Auf der Heide · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 6, 2000
• Grant date: Mar 27, 2001
• Expiry date: Jan 6, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64G1/26
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for the on the whole minimum-fuel, computer-assisted control of an optionally determined number of thrusters, arranged as desired on a spacecraft, is to be specified, which method solves this linear optimization problem within the shortest possible time by reducing the computation expenditure. The method depends on the dual simplex algorithm and a suitably provided dual permissible start table. The dual permissible start table is set up on the basis of a previously computed optimum table and the transformation of the actual forces-moments vector belonging to the selected start table. Specific processing steps in the dual simplex algorithm are either not needed at all or are substituted with processing steps that require considerably less computation expenditure. Finally, a reduced table is used in place of the simplex table. This reduced table consists only of an identification number for a thruster, selected from the total number of thrusters, and the vector for the control values of the thrusters contained in this thruster selection. The reduction in computation expenditure is achieved in that specific processing steps are performed ahead of time and the corresponding re…