Utah State University

Other

Tyson Smith

John Akagi

Stephen Whitmore

Greg Droge

Kurt B Olsen

Zachary Lewis

Marc Anthony Bulcher

Skylar Cox

Tanner Lex Jones

For maneuvering a spacecraft, a method calculates a virtual point that represents a plurality of spacecraft orbiting in a spacecraft formation. The method iteratively calculates a desired trajectory relative to the virtual point for a given spacecraft of the plurality of spacecraft using a relative orbital elements (ROE) state x of the virtual point and the given spacecraft. Model predictive control maintains the given spacecraft within an ROE constraint for a given time interval subject to a fuel consumption. In response to determining a drift trajectory of the given spacecraft is outside of a trajectory tolerance of the desired trajectory, maneuvering the given spacecraft to within the trajectory tolerance using a maneuver trajectory determined using the model predictive control.

Maneuvering a spacecraft using an optimized guidance trajectory and model predictive control

For maneuvering a spacecraft, a method calculates a virtual point that represents a plurality of spacecraft orbiting in a spacecraft formation. The method further iteratively calculates an inner polytope boundary relative to the virtual point for a given spacecraft of the plurality of spacecraft. In response to determining the inner polytope boundary will be breached, the method maneuvers the given spacecraft to within the inner polytope boundary based on a switching condition, a guidance law, and model predictive control to minimize fuel consumption.

For model predictive control for a spacecraft formation, a method calculates a virtual point that represents a plurality of spacecraft orbiting in a spacecraft formation. The method calculates an outer polytope boundary and an inner polytope boundary relative to the virtual point for a given spacecraft of the plurality of spacecraft. The method maneuvers the given spacecraft to within the inner polytope boundary using model predictive control (MPC) to minimize fuel consumption.

Model predictive control for spacecraft formation

For power-enhanced slew maneuvers, a method determines a power collection function for a satellite. The method determines a power cost function for the satellite. The method calculates a power enhanced slew maneuver based on the power collection function and the power cost function.

Power-enhanced slew maneuvers

A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.

Miniaturized green end-burning hybrid propulsion system for cubesats

Miniaturized green end-burning hybrid propulsion system for CubeSats

A backhoe bucket reverse adapter is provided which can be interposed between a conventional Wain-Roy-style or Gannon-style backhoe arm bucket coupling assembly and a backhoe bucket so as to reverse the orientation of the backhoe bucket. The adapter is provided with an open framework and a rear end cross-connector having a tubular configuration corresponding to the tubular steel back cross-connecting member located at the top of a conventional Wain-Roy-style or Gannon-style backhoe bucket. The adapter has a pair of hook elements that are oriented in a forward direction, away from the chassis of the backhoe vehicle and in an opposite direction from the hook elements of a conventional backhoe coupling system. The hook elements of the backhoe bucket adapter can be utilized to engage a back cross-connecting member located at the top of a conventional bucket, while the structure of the adapter receives the oppositely directed hook elements of a conventional backhoe coupling assembly. The adapter is releaseably coupled to both the bucket and the conventional backhoe coupling assembly by means of a pair of releaseable latch pins. The orientation of a Wain-Roy-style or Gannon-style backhoe bucket on its mounting arm can thereby quickly and easily reversed as desired.

Growing community of inventors

Logan, UT, United States of America

Tyson Smith