This paper describes the first step toward the validation of the optimal control tool used to design avionic architectures. This tool is currently employed to create trade-offs and help the design of dedicated payload On-Board Computers for future Active Debris Removal (ADR) space missions. The principle of ADR mission is to target an object in space and move it somewhere else, preferably by deorbiting it. The initial task of the satellite (chaser) is to detect and track the targeted debris or object, then perform some proximity operations before capturing it. Associated with each phase, there is a couple of unique challenging mainly linked to the uncooperativeness of the target. To handle these problems, the chaser must embark a variety of sensors for the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC). It must equally have multiple dedicated algorithms for pose and attitude estimations of the target. To obtain accurate information, the algorithms require a high input data rate from multiple sensor sources. They guarantee constant tracking and prevent any biasing. Furthermore, because of orbital mechanisms and potential low ground coverage, data have to be analyzed on-board to satisfy a constant feed of the algorithms. The design tool developed by the EPFL Space Center focuses on the optimization of avionic architectures for ADR missions like ClearSpace-1(CS-1). An Optimal Control (OC) approach is employed with a mathematical model of the architecture. Its primary purpose is to minimize the number of elements in the avionic and optimize its output in terms of accuracy on target detection and tracking. The model contains descriptions of the sensors and the algorithms. It includes information on the On-Board Computer and the connection between the various elements. The tool runs specific scenarios over time with varying constraints like power consumption. The optimizer will try identifying the ideal configuration of algorithms and sensors given the current constraint and the objective function. The latter dictates the most critical parameters to optimize in the simulation. After presenting promising results in previous publications, this work focuses on the validation of the optimizer. To achieve it, the primary task is to implement representative software embedded in real hardware. By using a low complexity On-Board Computer with simplified software, some preliminary analyses are conducted. Multiple scenarios are created inside the optimizer, and the results are compared relative to the real hardware. The differences observed are key to understand the flaw and limit of the tool. They also emphasize the value of certain types of solutions and the achievability of outputted designs. The optimizer developed by the EPFL Space Center is used to investigate multiple avionic architectures for ADR missions such as ClearSpace-1. The tool validation is the first step needed to ensure the quality and the feasibility of the optimizer output. It is a crucial milestone to ease the development of high-performance On-Board Computers.


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    Title :

    Validation of Optimal Control Design Tool for Dedicated Avionic in Active Debris Removal Mission


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2022-03-05


    Size :

    2270873 byte




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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