Graduation Semester and Year

2006

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Kamesh Subbarao

Abstract

The project considers the problem of motion synchronization of free flying robotic spacecraft and serviceable floating objects in space. The synchronization maneuvers are based on sample and hold nonlinear translational and attitude control laws. GPS pseudorange signals and a vision based sensor unit are modeled to give position measurements; position and velocity estimates are extracted from the measurements based on Extended Kalman Filter models. A sensor data fusion algorithm in the form of a Federated Extended Kalman Filter is implemented that blends the estimates of the individual filters into a global estimate. Nonlinear simulations where a Pursuer spacecraft attempted to rendezvous with an uncontrolled free-floating Target spacecraft based on the estimation algorithms were performed. Effects of perturbations including non-uniform gravity and atmospheric drag were imposed to study the robustness of the algorithms.

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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