Multisensor Attitude Estimation


Book Description

There has been an increasing interest in multi-disciplinary research on multisensor attitude estimation technology driven by its versatility and diverse areas of application, such as sensor networks, robotics, navigation, video, biomedicine, etc. Attitude estimation consists of the determination of rigid bodies’ orientation in 3D space. This research area is a multilevel, multifaceted process handling the automatic association, correlation, estimation, and combination of data and information from several sources. Data fusion for attitude estimation is motivated by several issues and problems, such as data imperfection, data multi-modality, data dimensionality, processing framework, etc. While many of these problems have been identified and heavily investigated, no single data fusion algorithm is capable of addressing all the aforementioned challenges. The variety of methods in the literature focus on a subset of these issues to solve, which would be determined based on the application in hand. Historically, the problem of attitude estimation has been introduced by Grace Wahba in 1965 within the estimate of satellite attitude and aerospace applications. This book intends to provide the reader with both a generic and comprehensive view of contemporary data fusion methodologies for attitude estimation, as well as the most recent researches and novel advances on multisensor attitude estimation task. It explores the design of algorithms and architectures, benefits, and challenging aspects, as well as a broad array of disciplines, including: navigation, robotics, biomedicine, motion analysis, etc. A number of issues that make data fusion for attitude estimation a challenging task, and which will be discussed through the different chapters of the book, are related to: 1) The nature of sensors and information sources (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, GPS, inclinometer, etc.); 2) The computational ability at the sensors; 3) The theoretical developments and convergence proofs; 4) The system architecture, computational resources, fusion level.




Fundamentals of Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control


Book Description

This book explores topics that are central to the field of spacecraft attitude determination and control. The authors provide rigorous theoretical derivations of significant algorithms accompanied by a generous amount of qualitative discussions of the subject matter. The book documents the development of the important concepts and methods in a manner accessible to practicing engineers, graduate-level engineering students and applied mathematicians. It includes detailed examples from actual mission designs to help ease the transition from theory to practice and also provides prototype algorithms that are readily available on the author’s website. Subject matter includes both theoretical derivations and practical implementation of spacecraft attitude determination and control systems. It provides detailed derivations for attitude kinematics and dynamics and provides detailed description of the most widely used attitude parameterization, the quaternion. This title also provides a thorough treatise of attitude dynamics including Jacobian elliptical functions. It is the first known book to provide detailed derivations and explanations of state attitude determination and gives readers real-world examples from actual working spacecraft missions. The subject matter is chosen to fill the void of existing textbooks and treatises, especially in state and dynamics attitude determination. MATLAB code of all examples will be provided through an external website.




Optimal and Robust Estimation


Book Description

More than a decade ago, world-renowned control systems authority Frank L. Lewis introduced what would become a standard textbook on estimation, under the title Optimal Estimation, used in top universities throughout the world. The time has come for a new edition of this classic text, and Lewis enlisted the aid of two accomplished experts to bring the book completely up to date with the estimation methods driving today's high-performance systems. A Classic Revisited Optimal and Robust Estimation: With an Introduction to Stochastic Control Theory, Second Edition reflects new developments in estimation theory and design techniques. As the title suggests, the major feature of this edition is the inclusion of robust methods. Three new chapters cover the robust Kalman filter, H-infinity filtering, and H-infinity filtering of discrete-time systems. Modern Tools for Tomorrow's Engineers This text overflows with examples that highlight practical applications of the theory and concepts. Design algorithms appear conveniently in tables, allowing students quick reference, easy implementation into software, and intuitive comparisons for selecting the best algorithm for a given application. In addition, downloadable MATLAB® code allows students to gain hands-on experience with industry-standard software tools for a wide variety of applications. This cutting-edge and highly interactive text makes teaching, and learning, estimation methods easier and more modern than ever.




Spacecraft Modeling, Attitude Determination, and Control


Book Description

This book discusses all spacecraft attitude control-related topics: spacecraft (including attitude measurements, actuator, and disturbance torques), modeling, spacecraft attitude determination and estimation, and spacecraft attitude controls. Unlike other books addressing these topics, this book focuses on quaternion-based methods because of its many merits. The book lays a brief, but necessary background on rotation sequence representations and frequently used reference frames that form the foundation of spacecraft attitude description. It then discusses the fundamentals of attitude determination using vector measurements, various efficient (including very recently developed) attitude determination algorithms, and the instruments and methods of popular vector measurements. With available attitude measurements, attitude control designs for inertial point and nadir pointing are presented in terms of required torques which are independent of actuators in use. Given the required control torques, some actuators are not able to generate the accurate control torques, therefore, spacecraft attitude control design methods with achievable torques for these actuators (for example, magnetic torque bars and control moment gyros) are provided. Some rigorous controllability results are provided. The book also includes attitude control in some special maneuvers, such as orbital-raising, docking and rendezvous, that are normally not discussed in similar books. Almost all design methods are based on state-spaced modern control approaches, such as linear quadratic optimal control, robust pole assignment control, model predictive control, and gain scheduling control. Applications of these methods to spacecraft attitude control problems are provided. Appendices are provided for readers who are not familiar with these topics.




INS/CNS/GNSS Integrated Navigation Technology


Book Description

This book not only introduces the principles of INS, CNS and GNSS, the related filters and semi-physical simulation, but also systematically discusses the key technologies needed for integrated navigations of INS/GNSS, INS/CNS, and INS/CNS/GNSS, respectively. INS/CNS/GNSS integrated navigation technology has established itself as an effective tool for precise positioning navigation, which can make full use of the complementary characteristics of different navigation sub-systems and greatly improve the accuracy and reliability of the integrated navigation system. The book offers a valuable reference guide for graduate students, engineers and researchers in the fields of navigation and its control. Dr. Wei Quan, Dr. Jianli Li, Dr. Xiaolin Gong and Dr. Jiancheng Fang are all researchers at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.




Optimal Estimation of Dynamic Systems


Book Description

Most newcomers to the field of linear stochastic estimation go through a difficult process in understanding and applying the theory.This book minimizes the process while introducing the fundamentals of optimal estimation. Optimal Estimation of Dynamic Systems explores topics that are important in the field of control where the signals received are used to determine highly sensitive processes such as the flight path of a plane, the orbit of a space vehicle, or the control of a machine. The authors use dynamic models from mechanical and aerospace engineering to provide immediate results of estimation concepts with a minimal reliance on mathematical skills. The book documents the development of the central concepts and methods of optimal estimation theory in a manner accessible to engineering students, applied mathematicians, and practicing engineers. It includes rigorous theoretial derivations and a significant amount of qualitiative discussion and judgements. It also presents prototype algorithms, giving detail and discussion to stimulate development of efficient computer programs and intelligent use of them. This book illustrates the application of optimal estimation methods to problems with varying degrees of analytical and numercial difficulty. It compares various approaches to help develop a feel for the absolute and relative utility of different methods, and provides many applications in the fields of aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering.




Introduction to Avionics Systems


Book Description

Introduction to Avionic Systems, Second Edition explains the principles and theory of modern avionic systems and how they are implemented with current technology for both civil and military aircraft. The systems are analysed mathematically, where appropriate, so that the design and performance can be understood. The book covers displays and man-machine interaction, aerodynamics and aircraft control, fly-by-wire flight control, inertial sensors and attitude derivation, navigation systems, air data and air data systems, autopilots and flight management systems, avionic systems integration and unmanned air vehicles. About the Author. Dick Collinson has had "hands-on" experience of most of the systems covered in this book and, as Manager of the Flight Automation Research Laboratory of GEC-Marconi Avionics Ltd. (now part of BAE Systems Ltd.), led the avionics research activities for the company at Rochester, Kent for many years. He was awarded the Silver Medal of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1989 for his contribution to avionic systems research and development.




Strapdown Inertial Navigation Technology


Book Description

Inertial navigation is widely used for the guidance of aircraft, missiles ships and land vehicles, as well as in a number of novel applications such as surveying underground pipelines in drilling operations. This book discusses the physical principles of inertial navigation, the associated growth of errors and their compensation. It draws current technological developments, provides an indication of potential future trends and covers a broad range of applications. New chapters on MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) technology and inertial system applications are included.




Advances in Estimation, Navigation, and Spacecraft Control


Book Description

This book presents selected papers of the Itzhack Y. Bar-Itzhack Memorial Sympo- sium on Estimation, Navigation, and Spacecraft Control. Itzhack Y. Bar-Itzhack, professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, was a prominent and world-renowned member of the applied estimation, navigation, and spacecraft attitude determination communities. He touched the lives of many. He had a love for life, an incredible sense of humor, and wisdom that he shared freely with everyone he met. To honor Professor Bar-Itzhack's memory, as well as his numerous seminal professional achievements, an international symposium was held in Haifa, Israel, on October 14–17, 2012, under the auspices of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion and the Israeli Association for Automatic Control. The book contains 27 selected, revised, and edited contributed chapters written by eminent international experts. The book is organized in three parts: (1) Estimation, (2) Navigation and (3) Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation and Control. The volume was prepared as a reference for research scientists and practicing engineers from academy and industry in the fields of estimation, navigation, and spacecraft GN&C.




Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control


Book Description

Roger D. Werking Head, Attitude Determination and Control Section National Aeronautics and Space Administration/ Goddard Space Flight Center Extensiye work has been done for many years in the areas of attitude determination, attitude prediction, and attitude control. During this time, it has been difficult to obtain reference material that provided a comprehensive overview of attitude support activities. This lack of reference material has made it difficult for those not intimately involved in attitude functions to become acquainted with the ideas and activities which are essential to understanding the various aspects of spacecraft attitude support. As a result, I felt the need for a document which could be used by a variety of persons to obtain an understanding of the work which has been done in support of spacecraft attitude objectives. It is believed that this book, prepared by the Computer Sciences Corporation under the able direction of Dr. James Wertz, provides this type of reference. This book can serve as a reference for individuals involved in mission planning, attitude determination, and attitude dynamics; an introductory textbook for stu dents and professionals starting in this field; an information source for experimen ters or others involved in spacecraft-related work who need information on spacecraft orientation and how it is determined, but who have neither the time nor the resources to pursue the varied literature on this subject; and a tool for encouraging those who could expand this discipline to do so, because much remains to be done to satisfy future needs.