Filter Observer-Based Attitude Control for Moving Mass Satellites Under Strong Aerodynamic Torques

Moving mass technology offers a promising solution to counter strong aerodynamic torques despite inherent inertial disturbance challenges. This paper proposes a filter observer-based attitude compensation scheme for low Earth orbit (LEO) moving mass satellites. The scheme integrates a moving mass de...

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Main Authors: Yuandong Hu, Zhengliang Lu, Wenhe Liao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2025-01-01
Series:Space: Science & Technology
Online Access:https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/space.0230
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author Yuandong Hu
Zhengliang Lu
Wenhe Liao
author_facet Yuandong Hu
Zhengliang Lu
Wenhe Liao
author_sort Yuandong Hu
collection DOAJ
description Moving mass technology offers a promising solution to counter strong aerodynamic torques despite inherent inertial disturbance challenges. This paper proposes a filter observer-based attitude compensation scheme for low Earth orbit (LEO) moving mass satellites. The scheme integrates a moving mass device (MMD) with the traditional reaction wheel actuator to mitigate aerodynamic torques while maintaining effectiveness at varying orbital heights. By employing a filter-based disturbance observer for attitude control and a discrete algorithm for mass motion control, inertial disturbances are markedly reduced, thereby enhancing attitude control stability. The impact of aerodynamic model uncertainties on attitude control is evaluated, and to balance inertial disturbances with internal structural constraints, a dual-symmetric MMD layout is adopted. The proposed filter observer-based control algorithm allows for independent filter design tailored to specific system characteristics, with its stability validated via the Lyapunov approach. Additionally, an incremental discrete PID (proportional-integral-derivative) algorithm is introduced for mass motion control, taking observed disturbances as feedback and eliminating the need for direct measurement. Numerical simulations conducted on a real CubeSat, NJUST-2, reveal that the proposed algorithm outperforms other control strategies in terms of attitude control stability and actuator jitter, thus validating its effectiveness for attitude control applications.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2692-7659
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
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spelling doaj-art-a3b7d8ccbf9d4d279cdf18232e312e6f2025-08-20T03:41:50ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Space: Science & Technology2692-76592025-01-01510.34133/space.0230Filter Observer-Based Attitude Control for Moving Mass Satellites Under Strong Aerodynamic TorquesYuandong Hu0Zhengliang Lu1Wenhe Liao2School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China.School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China.School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China.Moving mass technology offers a promising solution to counter strong aerodynamic torques despite inherent inertial disturbance challenges. This paper proposes a filter observer-based attitude compensation scheme for low Earth orbit (LEO) moving mass satellites. The scheme integrates a moving mass device (MMD) with the traditional reaction wheel actuator to mitigate aerodynamic torques while maintaining effectiveness at varying orbital heights. By employing a filter-based disturbance observer for attitude control and a discrete algorithm for mass motion control, inertial disturbances are markedly reduced, thereby enhancing attitude control stability. The impact of aerodynamic model uncertainties on attitude control is evaluated, and to balance inertial disturbances with internal structural constraints, a dual-symmetric MMD layout is adopted. The proposed filter observer-based control algorithm allows for independent filter design tailored to specific system characteristics, with its stability validated via the Lyapunov approach. Additionally, an incremental discrete PID (proportional-integral-derivative) algorithm is introduced for mass motion control, taking observed disturbances as feedback and eliminating the need for direct measurement. Numerical simulations conducted on a real CubeSat, NJUST-2, reveal that the proposed algorithm outperforms other control strategies in terms of attitude control stability and actuator jitter, thus validating its effectiveness for attitude control applications.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/space.0230
spellingShingle Yuandong Hu
Zhengliang Lu
Wenhe Liao
Filter Observer-Based Attitude Control for Moving Mass Satellites Under Strong Aerodynamic Torques
Space: Science & Technology
title Filter Observer-Based Attitude Control for Moving Mass Satellites Under Strong Aerodynamic Torques
title_full Filter Observer-Based Attitude Control for Moving Mass Satellites Under Strong Aerodynamic Torques
title_fullStr Filter Observer-Based Attitude Control for Moving Mass Satellites Under Strong Aerodynamic Torques
title_full_unstemmed Filter Observer-Based Attitude Control for Moving Mass Satellites Under Strong Aerodynamic Torques
title_short Filter Observer-Based Attitude Control for Moving Mass Satellites Under Strong Aerodynamic Torques
title_sort filter observer based attitude control for moving mass satellites under strong aerodynamic torques
url https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/space.0230
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AT zhenglianglu filterobserverbasedattitudecontrolformovingmasssatellitesunderstrongaerodynamictorques
AT wenheliao filterobserverbasedattitudecontrolformovingmasssatellitesunderstrongaerodynamictorques