Patent · US Expired

Method and system for determining a singularity free momentum path

US7464899B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 2005
Grant dateDec 16, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 28, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64G1/286
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for avoiding singularities in the movement of CMGs in an array of CMGs in a spacecraft includes a first step where a maneuver command to rotate a spacecraft orientation is received. Then, the torque needed to rotate the spacecraft's orientation is determined. Then, the torque is integrated to determine a momentum path. The momentum path is decomposed into a sequence of straight line segments. For each line segment, a unit vector along the straight line segments is determined. Then, it is determined if there is a continuous path connecting a start point and an end point of the line segment in a plane perpendicular to the unit vector. For each point along the path in the plane perpendicular to the unit vector, a set of gimbal angles is determined.

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