Attitude Determination and Control of Nano-Satellites

The University of Illinois's IlliniSat2 satellite bus is unique in that it is among only a few nano-satellites that implements three-axis, onboard attitude determination and control. Though this is an ambitious goal, it will allow for a wide range of scientific missions to be accomplished on this bus. To complete the system, an accurate attitude determination system needs to be developed. Several methods for determining the attitude state as well as mitigating system noise are explored. In particular, an extended Kalman lter is developed to obtain accurate angular rate information from noisy rate measurements. These rate measurements may be provided by either rate gyros or by successive vector measurements. A linear Kalman lter is developed to obtain an accurate attitude estimate. The attitude may be measured with two vector measurements via the TRIAD algorithm, while sensor noise may be rejected via the lter. Using these techniques the requirements for an e ective attitude determination and control system are met.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Warner, John G.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Coverstone, Victoria L.

• Attitude
• Determination
• Control
• Kalman Filter
• Extended Kalman Filter
• Magnetometer
• Rate Gyro
• Sun Sensor

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2009 John G. Warner

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14683

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/14683