Session
Weekday Session 4: Automation
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
OHB Sweden's future generation InnoSat microsatellite platforms will see a large upgrade in the platform's functionality maximizing onboard autonomy. In this paper, three development lines will be presented each contributing to maximizing efficiency and autonomy on a small satellite platform.
The InnoSat platform is a flexible platform concept with a recurring catalog of units, recurrent onboard software and mission control software, and heritage AIT processes. Two InnoSat missions are currently flying: Swedish National Space Agency's MATS and the commercial bring-into-use satellite GMS-T. Two more InnoSat derived missions will be launched in 2024: ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite and Satlantis' Garai-A. In 2025, Garai-B and Space Norway's ADIS are expected to be launched. Several other InnoSats, such as ESA's EIS IOD and ESA's Aurora-D, are in phases C and B respectively, in addition to multiple phase 0/A studies.
The three autonomy development lines are focusing on satellite control (ASK), constellation control (OPTACOM), and onboard agility (OPCMG).
The Swedish National Space Agency funded study Autonomous Station Keeping (ASK) adapts the existing ground-based InnoSat mission analysis and flight dynamics tools for autonomous use onboard. A Model Predictive Control scheme is in development and will be implemented in the InnoSat AOCS software and tested in the InnoSat Satellite Simulator. The expected Eumetsat EPS-Sterna constellation of Arctic Weather Satellites is a candidate for first flight of the ASK algorithm.
The ESA funded OPTimized Autonomous Constellation Orbit Management (OPTACOM) study is a cooperation between OHB Sweden, OHB System, DLR, and Luleå Technical University (LTU). OHB Sweden provides the use case, a large constellation based on the InnoSat platform, with three test scenarios: constellation initialization, station-keeping, and constellation reconfiguration. Collision avoidance is treated as a constraint in all three scenarios. Both embedded real-time optimization and machine learning will be explored and compared with a benchmark feedback control solution. Two simulators will be developed, one for algorithm development and training, and one high-fidelity simulator for final verification with hardware characterization.
OPCMG is an ESA funded study on autonomous and optimized agile attitude control with CMGs for small satellite platform. The study is conducted by OHB Sweden and is performed in cooperation with DLR and deals with the onboard implementation of autonomous CMG guidance and control. Within the study, the use of embedded onboard optimization is compared with adaptive control techniques to solve the combined problem of optimal slew motion, and CMG guidance and control to ensure long-term efficient commandability under varying observation conditions.
Maximizing Autonomy on a Small Satellite Platform
Utah State University, Logan, UT
OHB Sweden's future generation InnoSat microsatellite platforms will see a large upgrade in the platform's functionality maximizing onboard autonomy. In this paper, three development lines will be presented each contributing to maximizing efficiency and autonomy on a small satellite platform.
The InnoSat platform is a flexible platform concept with a recurring catalog of units, recurrent onboard software and mission control software, and heritage AIT processes. Two InnoSat missions are currently flying: Swedish National Space Agency's MATS and the commercial bring-into-use satellite GMS-T. Two more InnoSat derived missions will be launched in 2024: ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite and Satlantis' Garai-A. In 2025, Garai-B and Space Norway's ADIS are expected to be launched. Several other InnoSats, such as ESA's EIS IOD and ESA's Aurora-D, are in phases C and B respectively, in addition to multiple phase 0/A studies.
The three autonomy development lines are focusing on satellite control (ASK), constellation control (OPTACOM), and onboard agility (OPCMG).
The Swedish National Space Agency funded study Autonomous Station Keeping (ASK) adapts the existing ground-based InnoSat mission analysis and flight dynamics tools for autonomous use onboard. A Model Predictive Control scheme is in development and will be implemented in the InnoSat AOCS software and tested in the InnoSat Satellite Simulator. The expected Eumetsat EPS-Sterna constellation of Arctic Weather Satellites is a candidate for first flight of the ASK algorithm.
The ESA funded OPTimized Autonomous Constellation Orbit Management (OPTACOM) study is a cooperation between OHB Sweden, OHB System, DLR, and Luleå Technical University (LTU). OHB Sweden provides the use case, a large constellation based on the InnoSat platform, with three test scenarios: constellation initialization, station-keeping, and constellation reconfiguration. Collision avoidance is treated as a constraint in all three scenarios. Both embedded real-time optimization and machine learning will be explored and compared with a benchmark feedback control solution. Two simulators will be developed, one for algorithm development and training, and one high-fidelity simulator for final verification with hardware characterization.
OPCMG is an ESA funded study on autonomous and optimized agile attitude control with CMGs for small satellite platform. The study is conducted by OHB Sweden and is performed in cooperation with DLR and deals with the onboard implementation of autonomous CMG guidance and control. Within the study, the use of embedded onboard optimization is compared with adaptive control techniques to solve the combined problem of optimal slew motion, and CMG guidance and control to ensure long-term efficient commandability under varying observation conditions.
