Quantized control- moment gyroscope array
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorMason Peck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A momentum actuator for steering a spacecraft is disclosed. The momentum actuator comprises a rotor, a gimbal upon which the rotor is mounted, and a stepper motor coupled to the gimbal and operable to rotate the rotor about the gimbal in a series of steps. In one embodiment of the present invention the spin rate of the rotor can be varied to provide torque.
Claims23
A momentum actuator for steering a spacecraft comprising:
- a rotor;
- a gimbal upon which the rotor is mounted;
- and
- a stepper motor coupled to the gimbal and operable to rotate the rotor about the gimbal in a series of steps.
A method for steering control-moment gyroscopes having variable-speed rotors and moveable gimbals, the gimbals moving in discrete steps, the method comprising:
- determining a change in momentum needed to make a desired attitude change for a spacecraft;
- determining if the gimbals need to be stepped to provide at least part of the change in momentum;
- altering only a spin rate of the rotor if the change in momentum does not require the gimbals to be moved;
- and
- changing the alignment of the gimbals if needed to provide at least part of the change in momentum.
A method of steering control-moment gyroscopes having variable-speed rotors and moveable gimbals, the gimbals moveable in discrete steps, the method comprising:
- determining a torque needed to produce a desired attitude change;
- determining a gimbal rate produced by moving each of the control-moment gyroscopes a number of steps in a given period of time;
- determining a torque provided by adjusting the spin rate of the rotor of each of the control-moment gyroscopes;
- and
- providing the gimbal rate the torque to the control-moment gyroscopes in the control-moment gyroscope array.
A momentum control system for steering a spacecraft comprising:
- an attitude control system that controls the positioning of the spacecraft;
- and
- a control-moment gyroscope array comprising:
- a control-moment gyroscope comprising:
- a rotor;
- a gimbal upon which the rotor is mounted;
- and
- a stepper motor coupled to the gimbal, and operable to rotate the rotor about the gimbal in a series of steps;
- and
- a control-moment gyroscope controller for controlling the movement of a control-moment gyroscope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.