Integrated attitude and shape control for OrigamiSats with variable surface reflectivity

Robb, B., Russo, A., Soldini, S., Paoletti, P., Reveles, J., Bailet, G. and McInnes, C. R. (2023) Integrated attitude and shape control for OrigamiSats with variable surface reflectivity. Acta Astronautica, 211, pp. 393-404. (doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.06.025)

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Abstract

OrigamiSats, a new concept in solar sailing, are origami spacecraft with reflective panels that, when flat, operate as a conventional solar sail. Shape reconfiguration, i.e. “folding” of the origami design, allows the OrigamiSat to change operational modes, performing different functions as per mission requirements. For example, a flat OrigamiSat could be reconfigured into the shape of a parabolic reflector, before returning to the flat configuration when required to operate again as a solar sail, providing propellant-free propulsion. The attitude dynamics and shape reconfiguration of OrigamiSats are known to be highly coupled, thus presenting a challenge from a control perspective. This paper investigates the problem of integrating attitude and shape control of a Miura-fold pattern OrigamiSat through the use of variable reflectivity, allowing differences in solar radiation pressure to be used to enact shape reconfiguration and attitude manoeuvres. A closed-loop feedback controller is presented which combines and balances the attitude and shape control requirements, and gain-scheduling is implemented to address some specific features of the system dynamics. Numerical simulations of the multibody dynamics of the system are used to test the proposed controller and simulations of some example manoeuvres are performed which demonstrate the system’s performance.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:BAILET, Dr Rer Nat Gilles and McInnes, Professor Colin and Robb, Bonar
Authors: Robb, B., Russo, A., Soldini, S., Paoletti, P., Reveles, J., Bailet, G., and McInnes, C. R.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Acta Astronautica
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0094-5765
ISSN (Online):1879-2030
Published Online:17 June 2023
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2023 The Authors
First Published:First published in Acta Astronautica 211:393-404
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
306654Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging TechnologiesColin McInnesRoyal Academy of Engineering (RAE)CIET1819\TUA\15ENG - Systems Power & Energy