Rotating Motion Control of Tethered Satellite Cluster Systems.

Abstract

:We propose the concept of Tethered Satellite Cluster Systems. The system consists of the satellites connected by tethers, and keeps and changes the formation with active tension/length control of the tether. The purpose of the system is the saving of the thruster fuel required for the coordinated mission and the improvement of the control precision, using tether tension. The system is applied to tethered service satellites, which perform the missions, for example an autonomic inspection, casting, capture, moorage and deorbit of an uncontrolled satellite. In this paper, we treat the rotating motion; satellites rotate on the center of the mass of the system with the formation in same plane. We establish the coordinated control method using tension and thrust. This control method can decrease the fuel consumption of the thruster, for utilizing the tether tension/torque equilibriums. It can also improve the control precision. Moreover, we establish the formation control method without thrust for the transition to the objective formation.

New Spinning Deployment Method of Large Thin Membranes with Tether Control

“…Fig. 14 shows one of results in the case under tether control: tethered formation flight [8][9][10] and the effectiveness is clear. Next step is membrane deployment experiment with tether control; this is in preparation.…”

“…However, it may not work well for very large and very thin membrane. To make it possible to control the membrane during and after deployment, we consider tethered satellites cluster concept proposed by Matunaga and Mori [7][8][9][10]. This has the following features: 1) multiple satellites, 2) functions of tension force/torque control using tether mechanism, namely, coordinate control of thruster and inner torque, and/or tether and robotic arm, 3) spinning rigidity is used to have system stability, and fuel efficient and shape/position precise controls can be achieved, which is shown by numerical simulations and ground experiments.…”

Rocket Separation Mechanism for Pico Mother and Daughter satellite “KUKAI”

“…Gemini-Agena program [8] and Tethered Satellite System Project by U.S.A. and Italy [9] were performed for space verification experiments. On the other hand, recently, a formation flight mission [10] and a debris removal mission [11] are considered as tethered system applications.…”