An Autonomous and Dependable Formation Flying Technique

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An Autonomous and Dependable Formation Flying
Technique

• Sergey Butenkov Taganrog University, RU
• Oleg Semery Taganrog University, RU
• Siamak Tafazoli CSA, CA
• Space Ops 2004, Montreal, QC, Canada

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Facts about micro satellites clusters

• Faster production cycle and less expensive than
  large satellite
• Distribute functions of single large satellite
  among several small cooperative units
• Multi sensors, various missions
• A cluster can synthesize larger aperture
  providing much better image resolution

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Motivation

• To enable orbit corrections during formation
  flying
• To provide an autonomous and dependable on-board
  control for orbit maneuvering, formation flying
  reconfiguration and deconfiguration

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Our approach

• Consider reduced dynamic equations
• Obtain the analytical form for the on-board
  controller
• Use the on-board controller for maneuvers

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Main results

• Provide orbit perturbation compensation by
  on-board controller
• Simple and fast on-board controller
• Control techniques will provide a fuel-efficient
  way for maneuvers

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Common satellite controller structure
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Relevant coordinate frames
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Reconfiguration Maneuvers
 
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Results Orbit transfer maneuver
Attraction to the target orbit with the
oscillatory movement
Phase trajectory in (r,r) plane for the
oscillatory movement
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Results 2-satellite formation flying maneuver
2-satellite formation flying maneuvers
2-satellite formation flying maneuvers
2-satellite formation flying maneuvers
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Results 4-satellite reconfiguration maneuver
2-satellite formation flying maneuvers
2-satellite formation flying maneuvers
2-satellite formation flying maneuvers
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Conclusion and future work

• Techniques presented in this paper, based on
  optimal synergetics, may be useful for many
  different engineering applications
• Consider satellites with limited control forces
• Include environmental perturbations
• Consider attitude control during maneuvers