Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/24—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
  • B64G1/28—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using inertia or gyro effect
  • B64G1/283—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using inertia or gyro effect using reaction wheels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/24—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
  • B64G1/28—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using inertia or gyro effect
  • B64G1/286—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using inertia or gyro effect using control momentum gyroscopes (CMGs)
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
  • H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
  • H02K7/02—Additional mass for increasing inertia, e.g. flywheels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/42—Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems
  • B64G1/425—Power storage
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/42—Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems
  • B64G1/425—Power storage
  • B64G1/426—Flywheels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/42—Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems
  • B64G1/428—Power distribution and management
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/16—Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to a spacecraft, and more particularly relates to a system for vehicle and attitude and/or momentum control of a spacecraft.
• Spacecraft such as satellites, typically use attitude and/or momentum control systems, such as control moment gyroscopes (CMG) and reaction wheel assemblies (RWA), for positioning and rotation.
• CMGs operate by producing a relatively large torque along a first axis when a spinning rotor is rotated with a smaller torque about an axis perpendicular to the rotor spin axis. Accordingly, combinations of CMGs (usually three or more in an array) may be arranged in non-coincidental mounting planes so that the torques may be applied, using various combinations, in any desired direction of rotation.
• RWAs are most commonly used where large and/or rapid motions, or high inertia equipment, need to be moved with high precision such as in spacecraft slew maneuvers.
• RWAs include a spinning rotor that exerts a relatively small torque along the spin axis as the rotor is caused to spin faster or slower.
• RWAs may be disposed with several reaction wheels (usually three or more in an array) aligned to cause rotation in any direction.
• RWAs are usually used where smaller movements are necessary, such as controlling the direction of scan of a sensor, or detector, such as small camera or radar antenna in spacecraft, which operate to view areas or targets on the earth.
• RWAs are also used to store momentum that is built up by small .externally applied torques acting over a long period of time.
• attitude and/or momentum control system that is capable of providing an adequate amount of torque to move a large payload.
• attitude and/or momentum control system it is desirable for an attitude and/or momentum control system to be capable of being implemented into a small spacecraft.
• An attitude control system includes a slat having an axis, a plurality of microwheels disposed on the slat, each microwheel having a first stator wafer, a second stator wafer, and a rotor wafer disposed therebetween, the first and second stator wafers configured to spin the rotor wafer, and an actuator coupled to the slat and configured to at least partially rotate the slat about the axis.
• the attitude control system includes a plurality of slats each having an axis, a plurality of microwheels disposed on the slat, each microwheel having a first stator wafer, a second stator wafer, and a rotor wafer disposed therebetween, the first and second stator wafers configured to levitate and spin the rotor wafer, and an actuator coupled to the plurality of slats and configured to rotate each of the slats of the plurality of slats about each axis.
• a vehicle in still another embodiment, includes a housing, a plurality of slats disposed within the housing, a plurality of microwheels disposed on each of the slats, each microwheel having a first stator wafer, a second stator wafer, and a rotor wafer disposed therebetween, the first and second stator wafers configured to spin the rotor wafer, and an actuator coupled to the plurality of slats.
• FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of an exemplary vehicle, such as a microsatellite;
• FIG. 2 is an exemplary attitude control apparatus that may be used in the exemplary vehicle of FIG. 1; and
• FIG. 3 is a slat that may be used in the exemplary attitude control apparatus of FIG. 2.
• FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary vehicle 100, such as a microsatellite that includes a housing 102, a power subsystem 104, and a vehicle control system 200 disposed therein.
• the housing 102 is configured to withstand potentially extreme temperature and pressure changes to which the vehicle 100 may be subjected when it is launched into space and/or in orbit. It will be appreciated that the housing 102 may be constructed of any one of numerous types of appropriate materials and have any one of numerous suitable sizes and shapes.
• the power subsystem 104 includes a power supply 106 and a power storage unit 108.
• the power supply 106 can be implemented using any one of numerous types of suitable devices that supply power, such as, for example, solar panels.
• the power storage unit 108 is coupled to the power supply 106 and stores power received therefrom.
• One or both of the power supply 106 and power storage unit 108 are coupled to the vehicle control system 200 and are configured to supply power thereto.
• the power storage unit 108 may be a battery, a capacitor, or any other suitable device.
• the vehicle control system 200 is configured to provide 3-axis attitude and/or momentum control for the vehicle 100.
• the vehicle control system 200 includes a plurality of slats 206, an actuator 208, and a plurality of microwheels 204.
• the plurality of slats 206 may be disposed in the vehicle 100 in any one of numerous fashions.
• the plurality of slats 206 is mounted to a wall of the vehicle 100.
• the plurality of slats 206 is disposed within a slat housing 202 that includes at least two walls 210, 212 that are opposite one another and may have any one of numerous suitable shapes and/or sizes.
• the walls 210, 212 may be at least partially curved or substantially flat.
• the two walls 210, 212 are configured to conform to the shape of the vehicle housing 102.
• the walls 210, 212 are configured to couple to the vehicle housing 102.
• each slat 206 is shown to have substantially the same length, the individual slats 206 may vary in length.
• Each of the slats 206 is substantially parallel with one another and each is configured to provide a surface to which the plurality of microwheels 204 is coupled.
• the slats 206 are also configured to deliver electricity to the microwheels 204.
• the slats 206 can be constructed of any one of numerous suitable materials, hi one exemplary embodiment, the slats 206 are made of circuit board material.
• the slats 206 include electrical circuitry that are coupled thereto and that electrically couple the power supply 108 to the microwheels 204.
• the actuator 208 is coupled to the plurality of slats 206 and is configured to tilt the slats 206 to thereby rotate each slat 206 about a respective axis, depicted in this embodiment as a longitudinal axis 270.
• the actuator 208 may have any one of numerous configurations.
• the actuator may be electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically, or manually activated.
• the actuator 208 includes a rod 254 and an actuating mechanism 258.
• the rod 254 is coupled to the slats 206 and the actuating mechanism 258. It will be appreciated that each of these components may be coupled to one another in any one of numerous conventional manners.
• the slats 206 each have longitudinal edges 256a, 256b which couple to the rod 254.
• the rod 254 causes the slats 206 to tilt the edges 256a, 256b either up or down.
• the actuating mechanism 258 may be any one of numerous devices capable of causing the rod 254 to move and may be configured to be activated by any one of a number of methods, such as, for example, electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically, or manually.
• the actuator 208 includes cords 260, instead of, or in combination with rods.
• the cords 260 may be coupled to the slat longitudinal edges 256a, 256b and actuating mechanism 258.
• the slats 206 each include apertures 262a, 262b, 262c formed proximate the longitudinal edges 256a, 256b such that when the slats 206 are appropriately positioned, the apertures 262a, 262b, 262c are aligned with one another.
• the cords 260 are then threaded through the apertures 262a, 262b, 262c and configured to support each slat 206.
• the actuating mechanism 258 is configured to pull the cords 260, when activated, and cause the slats 206 to rotate.
• rod 254 and/or cord 260 may be coupled to the slats 206 and the additional rod 254 and/or cords 260 may be coupled to the same longitudinal edges 256a, 256b or another edge of the slats 206.
• FIG. 3 a cross section of one of the plurality of slats 206 is provided. Disposed on the slat 206 is one of the pluralities of microwheels 204 and electronic circuitry 248. It will be appreciated that although three microwheels are shown, fewer or more microwheels may be employed as well. Each microwheel 204 is preferably substantially equally sized and between about 1 and 6 inches in diameter, most preferably about 2 inches in diameter. However, the microwheels 204 may be smaller or larger, depending on the overall size and configuration of the vehicle 100. It will be appreciated that if the microwheels 204 are smaller in size, it may be preferable to employ more microwheels 204.
• Each microwheel 204 includes a first stator wafer 208, a second stator wafer 210, and a rotor wafer 212 disposed therebetween.
• the first and second stator wafers 208, 210 are configured to rotate the rotor wafer 212. Any one of numerous suitable configurations may be employed to implement this functionality.
• the first and second stator wafers 208, 210 may be configured to operate in any one of numerous manners, for example, electromagnetically, magnetically, electrostatically, or mechanically, to spin the rotor wafer 212.
• the first and second stator wafers 208, 210 each have an outer surface 214, 216, an inner surface 218, 220, an electromagnetic coil 224, 226, and electronic components 228, 230.
• the first and second stator wafers 208, 210 are constructed of silicon; however, it will be appreciated that any other suitable material may be used as well.
• the stator wafers 208, 210 may have any one of numerous shapes that accommodate the rotor wafer 212 therebetween.
• the inner surfaces 218, 220 are spaced apart from one another to thereby define a cavity 250, 252 within which the rotor wafer 212 is disposed.
• the electromagnetic coils 224, 226 are configured, upon energization to generate a magnetic field across each of the first stator wafer 206 and second stator wafer 208, and are preferably coupled to the inner surfaces 216, 218 of each of the first and second stator wafers 206, 208. Any one of numerous types of electromagnetic coils 224, 226 constructed of any one of numerous appropriate materials may be used.
• the electromagnetic coils 224, 226 may be a conductive material, such as a copper ring, with a wire coil wrapped around the ring.
• the electronic components 228, 230 are coupled to each of the electromagnetic coils 224, 226, and are configured to provide power to the electromagnetic coils 224, 226.
• the electronic components 228, 230 may be any conventional circuit configuration capable of supplying power to the electromagnetic coils 224, 226. hi one exemplary embodiment, a multichip module material (MCM) is implemented. No matter the implementation, the electronic components 228, 230 are attached to the first stator wafer 206 and second stator wafer 208, respectively, and each includes an electrical interface 232, 234 that is configured to allow the microwheel 204 to electrically couple to electrical connections in the tube 202, which will be discussed in detail further below.
• MCM multichip module material
• the rotor wafer 212 is configured to spin between the first and second stator wafers 206, 208 in any one of numerous manners.
• the rotor wafer 212 levitates between the upper and lower stator wafers 206, 208, for example, magnetically, or electromagnetically, or by other related methods, and includes an upper surface 236, a lower surface 238, and upper and lower magnets 240, 242.
• the upper magnet 240 is coupled to the rotor wafer upper surface 236 and the lower magnet 242 is coupled to the rotor wafer lower surface 238.
• the magnets 240, 242 any one of numerous magnetic materials may be used for the magnets 240, 242, however, in one embodiment, permanent magnets constructed from permalloy are employed.
• the rotor wafer 212 is configured to mechanically spin between the stator wafers 206, 208, and bearings, or other mechanical devices, are used in place of the magnets.
• the rotor wafer 212 may constructed of any suitable material, such as silicon.
• other microwheel configurations may also be employed, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,534,887 entitled "Microwheel” issued to Honeywell International Inc. on March 18, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the electronic circuitry 248 is configured to deliver current to the microwheels 204a, 204b, 204c and may be implemented using any conventional configuration.
• the electronic circuitry 248 is a plurality of wires that extends through the rod 254 or cord 260 and along the length of the slat 206.
• the wires are configured to be capable of electrically coupling with the electrical interfaces 232, 234 and may be embedded in the slat 206.
• the electronic circuitry 248 includes an input end 266 that is electrically coupled to and receives power from the power subsystem 104.
• the electronic circuitry 248 is a wire wrap or a slip ring coupled to the slat 206.
• the circuitry 248 deliver power to the electronic components 228, 230 which, in turn, deliver power to the microwheels 204a, 204b, 204c.
• power is delivered to the electromagnetic coils 224, 226 to generate a magnetic field that induces the rotor wafer 212 to levitate and to spin between the upper and lower stator wafers 208, 210.
• the speed at which the rotor wafer 212 spins may be controlled by varying the amount of current that flows through the wires 248.
• the spinning of the rotor wafer 212 allows the microwheel 204 to act as a flywheel.
• the vehicle control system 200 When only one of the microwheels rotates, it creates a small amount of momentum, however, when all three microwheels 204a, 204b, 204c rotate in the same direction, the vehicle control system 200 the amount of momentum is tripled. Thus, when an even greater number of microwheels 204 is employed in the vehicle control system 200, a large amount of momentum can be created. This momentum can then be controlled by manipulating the slats 106 and tilting the slats 106 from one position to another. Thus, when the slats 106 are ready to be moved, the actuator 104 is actuated to control the attitude and/or momentum of the vehicle 100 in all three axes.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Container, Conveyance, Adherence, Positioning, Of Wafer (AREA)
• Control Of Position Or Direction (AREA)
• Reciprocating, Oscillating Or Vibrating Motors (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=36260697

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2004
  • 2004-11-03 US US10/980,929 patent/US7273196B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-11-02 JP JP2007540045A patent/JP4768745B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2005-11-02 EP EP05857735A patent/EP1807305B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-11-02 WO PCT/US2005/039858 patent/WO2006098778A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2005-11-02 DE DE602005012307T patent/DE602005012307D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events