Date of Award
Winter 2024
Embargo Period
12-2025
Access Type
Thesis - Open Access
Degree Name
Master of Aerospace Engineering
Department
Aerospace Engineering
Committee Chair
Kadriye Merve Dogan
First Committee Member
Morad Nazari
Second Committee Member
Patrick Currier
Third Committee Member
Daniel Raible
College Dean
James W. Gregory
Abstract
The democratization of space has brought about many new opportunities and challenges for industry, academia, and governments. Smaller and more affordable platforms are now regularly being launched. These platforms have higher uncertainty due to cost, engineering constraints, unmodeled dynamics, coupled effects, and the challenging space environment. In addition, both mission requirements and complexity are simultaneously being increased. In order to achieve these requirements, new satellite control algorithms are required. Adaptive control offers a strong solution to the uncertainty problem. This thesis develops several adaptive control algorithms for satellites equipped with momentum management devices. Momentum management devices such as reaction wheels (RWs), control moment gyroscopes (CMGs), and variable speed control moment gyroscopes (VSCMGs) allow satellites to obtain high levels of pointing accuracy with minimal fuel expenditure. However, uncertainty in these devices can significantly degrade their performance. Additionally, the available bandwidth of the actuators can also degrade performance. In this thesis, we develop adaptive control laws which reduce the impact of actuator uncertainty and dynamics. Specifically, directional uncertainty and first order actuator dynamics are addressed. The Lyapunov stability analyses of these controllers are presented with simulation results. The thesis is organized as follows. Chapters 1 and 2 provide an introduction to the topic of spacecraft control with momentum management devices. The equations of motion and kinematics of a spacecraft with VSCMGs is developed in Chapters 3 and 4. A background on singularities in momentum management devices is given in Chapter 5. The nominal controller is developed in Chapter 6 and the adaptive controllers are developed in Chapters 7 and 8. Information on the experimental testbed and results from the nominal controller experiment are provided in Chapter 9.
Scholarly Commons Citation
Vernyi, Kyle, "Adaptive Control of VSCMGs for Satellite Attitude Tracking" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses. 862.
https://commons.erau.edu/edt/862
