Session
Session 8: Frank J. Redd Student Competition
Abstract
A new Sun sensor measurement model is designed and implemented in the attitude estimation system of a simulated spacecraft in low-Earth orbit (LEO) subject to environmental disturbance torques. This new measurement model remains compatible with all previous iterations of coarse Sun sensor hardware, it is merely the data processing that is different. Two Unscented Kalman Filters (UKF) are run in parallel onboard the simulated satellite – one filter using a standard Sun sensor measurement model and the other using the new measurement model. All other details and inputs to the two filters are identical. The results of the two attitude filters are compared to evaluate the performance of the new measurement model and the source of improvement is discussed.
Improved Model for Low Cost Sun Sensor Attitude Filtering
A new Sun sensor measurement model is designed and implemented in the attitude estimation system of a simulated spacecraft in low-Earth orbit (LEO) subject to environmental disturbance torques. This new measurement model remains compatible with all previous iterations of coarse Sun sensor hardware, it is merely the data processing that is different. Two Unscented Kalman Filters (UKF) are run in parallel onboard the simulated satellite – one filter using a standard Sun sensor measurement model and the other using the new measurement model. All other details and inputs to the two filters are identical. The results of the two attitude filters are compared to evaluate the performance of the new measurement model and the source of improvement is discussed.
