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Nonlinear programming control using differential aerodynamic drag for CubeSat formation flying

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Abstract

Because of their volume and power limitation, it is difficult for CubeSats to configure a traditional propulsion system. Atmospheric drag is one of the space environmental forces that low-orbit satellites can use to realize orbit adjustment. This paper presents an integrated control strategy to achieve the desired in-track formation through the atmospheric drag difference, which will be used on ZJUCubeSat, the next pico-satellite of Zhejiang University and one of the participants of the international QB50 project. The primary mission of the QB50 project is to explore the near-Earth thermosphere and ionosphere at the orbital height of 90–300 km. Atmospheric drag cannot be ignored and has a major impact on both attitude and orbit of the satellite at this low orbital height. We conduct aerodynamics analysis and design a multidimensional nonlinear constraint programming (MNLP) strategy to calculate different desired area–mass ratios and corresponding hold times for orbit adjustment, taking both the semimajor axis and eccentricity into account. In addition, area–mass ratio adjustment is achieved by pitch attitude maneuver without any deployable mechanism or corresponding control. Numerical simulation based on ZJUCubeSat verifies the feasibility and advantage of this design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Sheng-chao Deng

  2. School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Tao Meng & Zhong-he Jin

Authors
  1. Sheng-chao Deng
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  2. Tao Meng
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  3. Zhong-he Jin
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Correspondence to Tao Meng.

Additional information

Project supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (No. 61525403) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61503334)

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Deng, Sc., Meng, T. & Jin, Zh. Nonlinear programming control using differential aerodynamic drag for CubeSat formation flying. Frontiers Inf Technol Electronic Eng 18, 867–881 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1500493

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1500493

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