Purpose
This paper aims to describe a novel type of attitude control system (ACS) in different configurations. This servomechanism is compared with control moment gyro (CMG) in significant parameters of performance for ACS of rigid satellite.
Design/methodology/approach
This new actuator is the fluid containing one or more rings and fluid flow is supplied by pump. The required torque control is obtained by managing fluid angular velocity. The cube-shaped satellite with three rings of fluid in the principle axes is considered for modeling. The satellite is considered rigid and nonlinear dynamics equation is used for it. In addition, the failure of the pyramid-shaped satellite with an additional ring fluid is discussed.
Findings
The controller model for four fluid rings has more complexity than for three fluid rings. The simulation results illustrated that four fluid rings need less energy for stabilization than three fluid rings. The performance of this type of actuator is compared with CMG. At last, it is demonstrated that performance parameters are improved with fluid ring actuator.
Research limitations/implications
Fluid ring actuator can be affected by environmental pressure and temperature. Therefore, freezing and boiling temperature of the fluid should be considered in system designation.
Practical implications
Fluid ring servomechanism can be used as ACS in rigid satellites. This actuator is compared by CMG, the prevalent actuator. It has less displacement attitude maneuver.
Originality/value
The results provide the feasibility and advantages of using fluid rings as satellite ACS. The quaternion error controller is used for this model to enhance its performance.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.