Module: spacecraftReconfig

Executive Summary

The primary purpose of this module is to schedule burn timing and attitude for spacecraft formation reconfiguration. Basic idea is described in section 14.8.3 of Analytical Mechanics of Space Systems. Based on keplerian dynamics, formation reconfiguration from one initial orbital element difference to target orbital element difference is scheduled so that reconfiguration is completed in one orbit period.

In addition to formation control algorithm described in the textbook, some extensions and improvements are included in this module. First, this module assumes that deputy spacecraft has one-axis thrusters. Therefore, attitude control is also necessary along with burn at certain period. When burn timing is approaching, target attitude is output as attRefOutMsg. Otherwise, and if attRefInMsg (which is optional) is set, the reference message is output as attRefOutMsg. Second, if \(\delta a\) is not zero, drift of \(\delta M\) occurs. This module can take this drift into consideration . Therefore, this module can achieve formation reconfiguration in orbital period. Third, in general three-time burn is necessary for reconfiguration. Two of them occur at perigee and apogee each. The other burn timing varies depending on necessary change of orbital element difference. In some cases, this burn timing can be close to perigee or apogee. In these cases, two burns are integrated into one burn. Parameter attControlTime is used to check whether this integration is necessary or not.

Message Connection Descriptions

The following table lists all the module input and output messages. The module msg variable name is set by the user from python. The msg type contains a link to the message structure definition, while the description provides information on what this message is used for.

Module I/O Messages
Msg Variable Name	Msg Type	Description
chiefTransInMsg	NavTransMsgPayload	chief’s position and velocity input message
deputyTransInMsg	NavTransMsgPayload	deputy’s position and velocity input message
thrustConfigInMsg	THRArrayConfigMsgPayload	deputy’s thruster configuration input message
attRefInMsg	AttRefMsgPayload	(optional) deputy’s reference attitude input message. If set, then the deputy will point along this reference attitude unless it must point the thrusters in a control direction.
vehicleConfigInMsg	VehicleConfigMsgPayload	deputy’s vehicle configuration input message
attRefOutMsg	AttRefMsgPayload	deputy’s target attitude output message
onTimeOutMsg	THRArrayOnTimeCmdMsgPayload	The deputy’s thruster’s on time output message
burnArrayInfoOutMsg	ReconfigBurnArrayInfoMsgPayload	deputy’s scheduled burns info output message

Module Assumptions and Limitations

This module uses classic orbital element, so this module cannot be applied to near-circular or near-equatorial orbits.
Too long or too short attControlTime may result in control error.
Impulsive maneuvers are approximated by steady thrust of a certain period.

User Guide

This module requires the following variables to be set as parameters:

attControlTime time [s] necessary to control one attitude to another attitude
mu gravitational constant for a central body in m^3/s^2
targetClassicOED desired orbital element difference.

For targetClassicOED, normalized semi major axis must be used.

Functions

void SelfInit_spacecraftReconfig(spacecraftReconfigConfig *configData, int64_t moduleID)

This method initializes the configData for this module. It checks to ensure that the inputs are sane and then creates the output message

Parameters:

configData – The configuration data associated with this module
moduleID – The Basilisk module identifier

Returns:

void

void Update_spacecraftReconfig(spacecraftReconfigConfig *configData, uint64_t callTime, int64_t moduleID)

Add a description of what this main Update() routine does for this module

Parameters:

configData – The configuration data associated with the module
callTime – The clock time at which the function was called (nanoseconds)
moduleID – The Basilisk module identifier

Returns:

void

void Reset_spacecraftReconfig(spacecraftReconfigConfig *configData, uint64_t callTime, int64_t moduleID)

This method performs a complete reset of the module. Local module variables that retain time varying states between function calls are reset to their default values. The local copy of the message output buffer should be cleared.

Parameters:

configData – The configuration data associated with the module
callTime – The clock time at which the function was called (nanoseconds)
moduleID – The Basilisk module identifier

Returns:

void

void UpdateManeuver(spacecraftReconfigConfig *configData, NavTransMsgPayload chiefTransMsgBuffer, NavTransMsgPayload deputyTransMsgBuffer, AttRefMsgPayload attRefInMsgBuffer, THRArrayConfigMsgPayload thrustConfigMsgBuffer, VehicleConfigMsgPayload vehicleConfigMsgBuffer, AttRefMsgPayload *attRefOutMsgBuffer, THRArrayOnTimeCmdMsgPayload *thrustOnMsgBuffer, uint64_t callTime, int64_t moduleID)

based on burn schedule, this function creates a message of reference attitude and thruster on time

Parameters:

configData – The configuration data associated with the module
chiefTransMsgBuffer – chief’s position and velocity
deputyTransMsgBuffer – deputy’s position and velocity
attRefInMsgBuffer – target attitude
thrustConfigMsgBuffer – thruster’s config information
vehicleConfigMsgBuffer – deputy’s vehicle config information
attRefOutMsgBuffer – target attitude
thrustOnMsgBuffer – thruster on time
callTime – The clock time at which the function was called (nanoseconds)
moduleID – The Basilisk module identifier

Returns:

void

double AdjustRange(double lower, double upper, double angle)

This function is used to adjust a certain value in a certain range between lower threshold and upper threshold. This function is particularily used to adjsut angles used in orbital motions such as True Anomaly, Mean Anomaly, and so on.

Parameters:

lower – lower threshold
upper – upper threshold
angle – an angle which you want to be between lower and upper

Returns:

double

int CompareTime(const void *n1, const void *n2)

This function is used to sort an array of spacecraftReconfigConfigBurnInfo in ascending order.

Parameters:

n1 –
n2 –

Returns:

void

void ScheduleDV(spacecraftReconfigConfig *configData, classicElements oe_c, classicElements oe_d, THRArrayConfigMsgPayload thrustConfigMsgBuffer, VehicleConfigMsgPayload vehicleConfigMsgBuffer)

This function is used to sort an array of spacecraftReconfigConfigBurnInfo in ascending order.

Parameters:

configData – The configuration data associated with this module
oe_c – chief’s orbital element
oe_d – deputy’s orbital element
thrustConfigMsgBuffer –
vehicleConfigMsgBuffer – deputy’s vehicle config information

Returns:

void

struct spacecraftReconfigConfig

#include <spacecraftReconfig.h>

Data structure for the MRP feedback attitude control routine.

Public Members

NavTransMsg_C chiefTransInMsg: chief orbit input msg

NavTransMsg_C deputyTransInMsg: deputy orbit input msg

THRArrayConfigMsg_C thrustConfigInMsg: THR configuration input msg.

AttRefMsg_C attRefInMsg: nominal attitude reference input msg

VehicleConfigMsg_C vehicleConfigInMsg: deputy vehicle config msg

AttRefMsg_C attRefOutMsg: attitude reference output msg

THRArrayOnTimeCmdMsg_C onTimeOutMsg: THR on-time output msg.

ReconfigBurnArrayInfoMsg_C burnArrayInfoOutMsg: array of burn info output msg

double mu: [m^3/s^2] gravity constant of planet being orbited

double attControlTime: [s] attitude control margin time (time necessary to change sc’s attitude)

double targetClassicOED[6]: target classic orital element difference, SMA should be normalized

double resetPeriod: [s] burn scheduling reset period

double tCurrent: [s] timer

uint64_t prevCallTime: [ns]

uint8_t thrustOnFlag: thrust control

int attRefInIsLinked: flag if the attitude reference input message is linked

ReconfigBurnArrayInfoMsgPayload burnArrayInfoOutMsgBuffer: msg buffer for burn array info

BSKLogger *bskLogger: BSK Logging.