Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the attitude control pointing improvement for a small satellite with control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) using the active force control (AFC) method.

Design/methodology/approach

The AFC method is developed with its governing equations and integrated into the conventional proportional-derivative (PD) controller of a closed-loop satellite attitude control system. Two numerical simulations of an identical attitude control mission namely the PD controller and the PD+AFC controller were carried out using the MATLAB^®-SimulinkTM software and their attitude control performances were demonstrated accordingly.

Findings

Having the PD+AFC controller, the attitude maneuver can be completed within the desired slew rate, which is about 2.14 degree/s and the attitude pointing accuracies for the roll, pitch and yaw angles have improved significantly by more than 85% in comparison with the PD controller alone. Moreover, the implementation of the AFC into the conventional PD controller does not cause significant difference on the physical structure of the four single gimbal CMGs (4-SGCMGs).

Practical implications

To achieve a precise attitude pointing mission, the AFC method can be applied directly to the existing conventional PD attitude control system of a CMG-based satellite. In this case, the AFC is indeed the backbone for the satellite attitude performance improvement.

Originality/value

The present study demonstrates that the attitude pointing of a small satellite with CMGs is improved through the implementation of the AFC scheme into the PD controller.

中文翻译：

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一种基于CMG的小型卫星的主动力控制

目的

本文旨在研究使用主动力控制（AFC）方法对带有控制力矩陀螺仪（CMG）的小型卫星的姿态控制指向改进。

设计/方法/方法

AFC 方法是利用其控制方程开发的，并集成到闭环卫星姿态控制系统的传统比例微分 (PD) 控制器中。使用MATLAB ^® -SimulinkTM 软件对PD 控制器和PD+AFC 控制器这两个相同的姿态控制任务进行了数值模拟，并相应地证明了它们的姿态控制性能。

发现

有了PD+AFC控制器，姿态机动可以在所需的摆率内完成，大约为2.14度/秒，横滚角、俯仰角和偏航角的姿态指向精度比以前显着提高了85%以上。单独的 PD 控制器。此外，将 AFC 实施到传统的 PD 控制器中不会对四个单云台 CMG（4-SGMGs）的物理结构造成显着差异。

实际影响

为了实现精确的姿态指向任务，AFC方法可以直接应用于现有的基于CMG的卫星的常规PD姿态控制系统。在这种情况下，AFC 确实是提高卫星姿态性能的支柱。

原创性/价值

目前的研究表明，通过在 PD 控制器中实施 AFC 方案，可以改善带有 CMG 的小型卫星的姿态指向。