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Method and device for controlling satellite attitude and steering using a gyrodyne cluster

  • US 20040167683A1
  • Filed: 12/29/2003
  • Published: 08/26/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling the attitude of a satellite having a cluster of at least four gyroscopic actuators with respective spinners mounted on gimbals steerable about axes parallel to one or the other of only two different directions that are fixed relative to the satellite, the method comprising the steps of:

  • measuring the attitude of the satellite by means of sensors on board the satellite;

    calculating the control torque required to perform an attitude-changing maneuver;

    calculating local linearization based on pseudo-inversion of the Jacobean matrix of the function associating the orientations of the actuator gimbals with the total kinetic moment of the cluster in order to determine new orientations for the gimbals; and

    controlling precession speeds of at least one of the actuator gimbals so as to deliver the control torque for reaching the desired configuration;

    the method being characterized by the step of performing the calculation by applying a constraint of seeking a cluster configuration remote from singular configurations by sharing between the two groups of actuators that component of the total kinetic moment of the cluster which is perpendicular to both of said two directions.

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