• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.187-197
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• 2020

In order to avoid the high cost and high risk of demonstration mission of rendezvous-docking technology, missions using nanosatellites have recently been increasing. However, there are few successful mission cases due to many limitations of nanosatellites like small size, power limitation, and limited performances of sensor, thruster, and controller. To improve the probability of rendezvous-docking mission success using nanosatellite, a rendezvous-docking phase analysis tool for nanosatellites is developed. The tool serves to analyze the relative position and attitude control of the chaser satellite at the docking phase. In this tool, the Model Predictive Controller (MPC) is implemented as a controller, and Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is adopted as a filter for noise filtering. To verify the performance and effectiveness of the developed tool for nanosatellites, simulation study was conducted. Consequently, we confirmed that this tool can be used for the analysis of relative position and attitude control for nanosatellites in the rendezvous-docking phase.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1072-1078
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• 2008

An adaptive control algorithm for spacecraft rendezvous and docking in a Keplerian orbit is presented. The equations of relative motion of two spacecrafts expressed in a local-vertical-local-horizontal rectangular frame are converted to a general Hamiltonian form, then an adaptive control method developed for the uncertain Hamiltonian system is applied to the rendezvous and docking problem. A smooth projection algorithm is applied to keep the parameter estimates inside a singularity-free region, and a numerical example shows that the developed controller successfully deals with the unknown mass of the chaser spacecraft.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.7-22
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• 2021

In this paper, we describe the results of the docking phase test in the ground environment of the rendezvous/docking technology verification satellite under development for the first time in Korea. rendezvous/docking technology is a high-level technology in space technology, which is also very important for accessing and performing tasks on relative objects in space orbit. In this paper, we describe the ground test results that the chaser finally docks the fixed target using an air bearing device. Based on the thrust control algorithm in the docking phase and the relative object recognition and relative distance estimation algorithm using visual-based sensors validated in this paper, we intend to use them for later expansion to rendezvous/docking algorithms in three-dimensional space for testing in space.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2022

This paper illustrates the trajectory design of drift distance recovery after initial launch and proximity operation when verifying rendezvous/docking technology using nanosatellites. The rendezvous/docking is a technology that is the basis of on-orbit servicing technology and is a preemptive process essential for approaching a target object. In particular, since it is difficult to verify in space, nanosatellites have recently been used to reduce the risk and cost of the development stage. Therefore, this paper not only introduces the configuration and specifications of thrusters for nanosatellites but also designs relative trajectories that can take into account the thrust limitations which come from the small size and low power of nanosatellites. In addition, we intend to be helpful in later designing scenarios according to the improvement of available thruster performance through comparison of trajectories and thrust usage with cases without thrust limitations.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2011

An integrated system composed of guidance, navigation and control (GNC) system for autonomous proximity operations and the docking of two spacecraft was developed. The position maneuvers were determined through the integration of the state-dependent Riccati equation formulated from nonlinear relative motion dynamics and relative navigation using rendezvous laser vision (Lidar) and a vision sensor system. In the vision sensor system, a switch between sensors was made along the approach phase in order to provide continuously effective navigation. As an extension of the rendezvous laser vision system, an automated terminal guidance scheme based on the Clohessy-Wiltshire state transition matrix was used to formulate a "V-bar hopping approach" reference trajectory. A proximity operations strategy was then adapted from the approach strategy used with the automated transfer vehicle. The attitude maneuvers, determined from a linear quadratic Gaussian-type control including quaternion based attitude estimation using star trackers or a vision sensor system, provided precise attitude control and robustness under uncertainties in the moments of inertia and external disturbances. These functions were then integrated into an autonomous GNC system that can perform proximity operations and meet all conditions for successful docking. A six-degree of freedom simulation was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the integrated system.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

In this paper, we described the development of a drag augmentation device for nanosatellite. Recently, space industry has entered the New Space era, and barriers to entry into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for artificial objects such as small rockets and nanosatellite mega constellations have been significantly lowered. As a result, the number of space debris is increasing exponentially, and it is approaching as a major threat to satellite currently in operation as well as satellites to be launched in near future. To prevent this, international organizations like Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) have been proposed space debris mitigation guidelines. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) conducted KARI Rendezvous & Docking demonstration SATellite (KARDSAT) project, the first nanosatellites for rendezvous and docking technology demonstration in Korea, and we also developed drag augmentation device for KARDSAT Target nanosatellite that complied with the international guideline of post-mission disposal.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2020

This paper addressed a relative navigation method for autonomous rendezvous and docking of cube-satellites using single frequency Differential GPS (DGPS) under the intermittent communication between satellites. Since the ionospheric error of GPS measurement is variable depending on the visible satellites, a few meters error of relative navigation is occurred in the Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) environment. Therefore, it is essential to remove the ionospheric error to perform relative navigation. Besides, an intermittent communication period for receiving GPS measurements of the target satellite is limited for getting information every sampling time. To solve this problem, a method combining range domain DGPS and orbit propagation is proposed in this paper. The proposed method improves the performance of DGPS by using Hatch filter and solves an intermittent communication problem by estimating the relative position and velocity using Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire Equation. Through the simulation, it is verified that the suggested algorithm provides the relative position error within RMS 0.5 m and the relative velocity error within RMS 3 cm/s. Furthermore, it has the advantage that it is suitable for real-time implementation using single-frequency GPS measurements and is computationally efficient.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2024

The paper presents a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system designed for satellite movement testing in the microgravity environment on the ground with two industrial robots. Especially, the paper deals with the contact between satellites during rendezvous and docking simulations of satellites using a robotic HILS system. For this purpose, the admittance control method plays a core role in preventing damage to the satellite or robot from contact force between satellites. The coordinate frames are transformed into the mass center of the satellite and the admittance control at the level of exponential coordinates is adopted to actively use the properties of Lie groups related to tracking errors. These methods effectively mitigate the risk of robot damage during inter-satellite contact and ensure efficient tracking performance of satellite movements.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1124-1131
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• 2015

This paper describes a 5-dof ground testbed which emulates micro-gravity environment for developing Rendezvous/docking algorithm of a nano-satellite. The testbed consists of two parts, the low part which eliminates friction force with ground and the upper part which has 3-dof rotational motion with respect to the low part. For Vison-based autonomous navigation algorithm, we use camera, LIDAR and AHRS as sensors and eight cold gas thrusters and three axis directional reaction wheels as actuators. All system software are implemented with C++ based on on-board computer and Linux OS.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.263-277
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• 2018

This paper presents a vision-based relative pose estimation algorithm and its validation through both numerical and hardware experiments. The algorithm and the hardware system were simultaneously designed considering actual experimental conditions. Two estimation techniques were utilized to estimate relative pose; one was a nonlinear least square method for initial estimation, and the other was an extended Kalman Filter for subsequent on-line estimation. A measurement model of the vision sensor and equations of motion including nonlinear perturbations were utilized in the estimation process. Numerical simulations were performed and analyzed for both the autonomous docking and formation flying scenarios. A configuration of LED-based beacons was designed to avoid measurement singularity, and its structural information was implemented in the estimation algorithm. The proposed algorithm was verified again in the experimental environment by using the Autonomous Spacecraft Test Environment for Rendezvous In proXimity (ASTERIX) facility. Additionally, a laser distance meter was added to the estimation algorithm to improve the relative position estimation accuracy. Throughout this study, the performance required for autonomous docking could be presented by confirming the change in estimation accuracy with respect to the level of measurement error. In addition, hardware experiments confirmed the effectiveness of the suggested algorithm and its applicability to actual tasks in the real world.