A preliminary framework and feasibility study for spacecraft disturbance source detection and isolation with distributed inertial sensors

Adam J. Augustyniak, David Hanley, Timothy Bretl, Neil J. Hejmanowski, David L. Carroll

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a framework for the use of distributed inertial sensors to detect and isolate disturbance sources that might—without subsequent mitigation—have a negative impact on spacecraft pointing accuracy. Common sources of disturbance that have been observed on prior space missions include unbalanced reaction wheels, vibrating cryocoolers, flexing solar panels, and drive mechanisms, among many other examples. Dynamic interactions between disturbance sources like these can lead to micro-vibrations (oscillatory accelerations or specific forces in different parts of the spacecraft structure) and then in turn to jitter (high-frequency angular motion of a sensor). While measurements of jitter often provide little information about disturbance sources, measurements of the underlying micro-vibrations—if made, in particular, by a distributed set of inertial sensors that are co-located with candidate sources of disturbance—could, in principle, reveal which disturbance sources are active or are not behaving nominally and hence are likely to be causing jitter. We derive our framework through analysis of several case studies from prior space missions and show its feasibility through preliminary experiments with a ground-based hardware model.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAIAA Scitech 2021 Forum
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
Pages1-16
Number of pages16
ISBN (Print)9781624106095
StatePublished - 2021
EventAIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Jan 11 2021Jan 15 2021

Publication series

NameAIAA Scitech 2021 Forum

Conference

ConferenceAIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, AIAA SciTech Forum 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period1/11/211/15/21

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering

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