Virtual reaction wheel array
OwnerDavid A. Bailey, Norman E. Johnsoninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An attitude control system (ACS) for a spacecraft includes an attitude control assembly (ACA) interface, a control moment gyro (CMG) array and a reaction wheel assembly (RWA) control unit. The ACA interface converts torque commands received from the RWA control unit into CMG gimbal rates for the CMG array. The ACA interface receives CMG gimbal angles from the CMGs and converts the CMG gimbals angles into RWA speeds, which are then provided to the RWA control unit.
Claims16
An attitude control system for a spacecraft, the system comprising:
- an attitude control assembly (ACA) interface;
- a control moment gyro (CMG) array including a plurality of CMGs which are coupled to and receive CMG gimbal rates from the ACA interface and provide CMG gimbal angles to the ACA interface;
- and
- a reaction wheel assembly (RWA) control unit coupled to the ACA interface, wherein the ACA interface receives RWA torque commands from the RWA control unit and converts the torque commands to the CMG gimbal rates, and wherein the ACA interface receives the CMG gimbal angles from the CMGs and converts the CMG gimbal angles into RWA wheel speeds which are provided to the RWA control unit.
An attitude control system for a spacecraft, the system comprising:
- an attitude control assembly (ACA) interface;
- a control moment gyro (CMG) array including a plurality of CMGs which are coupled to and receive CMG gimbal rates from the ACA interface and provide CMG gimbal angles to the ACA interface;
- a reaction wheel assembly (RWA) control unit coupled to the ACA interface, wherein the ACA interface receives RWA torque commands from the RWA control unit and converts the torque commands to the CMG gimbal rates, and wherein the ACA interface receives the CMG gimbal angles from the CMGs and converts the CMG gimbal angles into RWA wheel speeds which are provided to the RWA control unit;
- and
- a sensor array coupled to RWA control unit, the sensor array providing inertial information to the RWA control unit.
An attitude control system for a spacecraft, the system comprising:
- an attitude control assembly (ACA) interface;
- a control moment gyro (CMG) array including a plurality of CMGs which are coupled to and receive CMG gimbal rates from the ACA interface and provide CMG gimbal angles to the ACA interface;
- a reaction wheel assembly (RWA) control unit coupled to the ACA interface, wherein the ACA interface receives RWA torque commands from the RWA control unit and converts the torque commands to the CMG gimbal rates, and wherein the ACA interface receives the CMG gimbal angles from the CMGs and converts the CMG gimbal angles into RWA wheel speeds which are provided to the RWA control unit;
- and
- a sensor array coupled to RWA control unit, wherein the sensor array includes an inertial sensor that provides inertial information to the RWA control unit and at least one of earth, sun and star sensors that provide reference signals to the RWA control unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.