last modified: 02/03/2006

Course code: wb1481LR

Course name: Dynamics and control of space systems

This concerns a Course

ECTS credit points: 4

Faculty of 3mE

Section of Engineering Mechanics

Lecturer(s): dr.ir. P.Th.L.M. van Woerkom

Tel.:  015 - 27 82792

Catalog data:

Spacecraft systems: spin-stabilized spacecraft, three-axis stabilized spacecraft, space robotic manipulators, onboard mechanisms.

Dynamics formalisms: Newton-Euler, virtual work.

Hybrid coordinate modelling of structurally flexible systems. Multibody dynamics modelling.

Sensors, actuators: types. Attitude estimation. Control concepts: passive, active; classical, modern, Lyapunov. Measurement and control spill-over. Control of agile spacecraft. Vibration suppression.

Capita selecta.

Course year:

MSc 1st year

Course language:

English

In case of Dutch: Please contact the lecturer about an English alternative, whenever needed.

Semester:

2A

Hours per week:

4

Other hours:

     

Assessment:

Assessment period:

2A / 2B

(see academic calendar)

 

Prerequisites (course codes):

AE4-305, AE4-305P

Follow up (course codes):

     

Detailed description of topics:

The course focuses on dynamics modelling and controller design for space systems - such as rigid spacecraft, structurally flexible spacecraft, space robotic manipulators, and onboard mechanisms. To understand system behaviour a thorough understanding of system dynamics is required. In turn this understanding constitutes the basis for the synthesis of suitable measurement and control systems, and for the selection of suitable estimation and control algorithms.

Course material:

  • Course Notes (on Blackboard)

References from literature:

  • See the listing in the Course Notes

Remarks assessment, entry requirements, etc.:

The course builds on course AE4-305 "Spacecraft attitude dynamics and control". Familiarity with basic concepts in three-dimensional rigid-body dynamics is assumed. In the present course these concepts are applied to somewhat more complex systems, as usually encountered in space. Control system synthesis focuses on control concepts and practicality.

The course consists of a series of lectures and of several small take-home assignments. The final grade for the course will be based on the quality of the take-home work. Where deemed helpful the student will be asked to further clarify his work.

The course has been set up especially for M.Sc. students in Aerospace Engineering. It has been presented previously under code AE4-399. However, its presentation will be such that it is also accessible to students from other faculties.

 

Aerospace students wishing to attend this course are invited to express their interest to dr. Q.P. Chu, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Section Control and Simulation, room 027, tel. 83586.

Learning goals:

The student must be able to:

  1. define suitable attitude parametrizations and the associated kinematic relationships for single bodies and for concatenated bodies (including structural flexibility)

  2. derive and interpret the equations of motion for the translation, rotation, and deformation of a generic single flexible body (virtual work derivation; hybrid coordinate formulation)

  3. derive and interpret the equations of motion of single-spin and dual-sin spacecraft

  4. derive and interpret the equations of motion for a rigid Earth-pointing three-axis stabilized spacecraft

  5. derive and interpret the equations of single-axis attitude motion of an agile (i.e. maneuvering) spacecraft disturbed by structural flexibility, by environmental torques (gravity gradient and magnetic) and by internal torques (reaction wheels)

  6. determine dynamic stability of a given space system (Routh-Hurwitz criterion; Lyapunov first and second methods)

  7. design three controllers for a single-axis spacecraft: classical PID, modern LQG, and Lyapunov

  8. design and analyze suppression of nutation of a spinstabilized spacecraft, using passive damping (viscous dissipation) and through active damping (jet; reaction wheel)

  9. describe and analyze multi-sensor data fusion (test case: single-axis spacecraft with attitude sensor and rate sensor)

  10. describe and analyze measurement spill-over and control spill-over (test cases: pinned-pinned beam and single-axis spacecraft)

  11. describe and analyze robust disturbance accommodation control

  12. formulate and analyze the equations of motion and control concepts for one of the following space systems:

  • space vehicle with robotic manipulator

  • piezo acuation for control of structural vibrations

  • real, precision space system project. (e.g. ANS, IRAS, SOHO, LST, Hubble, or MUSES-B, scanning mirror)

  • space tether with distributed mass ("chain in orbit"; Space Elevator)

Computer use:

Laboratory project(s):

Design content:

Percentage of design:     %