2017

Ruf, O.; Busch, S.; Schilling, K.;
Big Data - Big Testing - Challenges and Novel Approaches for Testing Large Numbers of Small Satellites
31st Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites. 2017, pp.
[BibTeX]

@inproceedings{ruf2017a, author = {O. Ruf and S. Busch and K. Schilling}, title = {Big Data - Big Testing - Challenges and Novel Approaches for Testing Large Numbers of Small Satellites}, booktitle = {31st Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites}, year = {2017}, volume = {31}, city = {Logan, UT}, month = {August} }

[Abstract]

Acquiring big data from space for global Earth observation and communi-cation services requires a large number of small satellites. Recent innova-tions in space technologies and new applications led to a paradigm shift in spacecraft design - from multi-functional big single spacecraft towards small, distributed, networked satellites. Especially real-time access to spe-cific data requires a globe-spanning network consisting of a large number of small spacecraft collecting and transmitting the data. The growing amount of small satellites involved in a single mission introduces new challenges to spacecraft design, integration, testing and operations. Where previously one big satellite was integrated, tested and operated as a single unit, hundreds of small satellites require the same tasks to be performed in the future with regard to planned mega constellations - while being even more cost effective. Therefore, the effort for integration, testing and operation must not relate to the number of satellites. New approaches are required to overcome traditional approaches and to carry testing and operational aspects to the Newspace sector. This contribution addresses the mentioned challenges and will provide an overview for approaches with focus on standardization and automation to enable rapid spacecraft design, integration and testing. This allows the economical usage of a large number of small satellites for gathering big data.

Ruf, O.; Busch, S.; Dombrowski, S.; Schilling, K.;
Challenges and Novel Approaches for Testing Large Numbers of Small Satellites
68th International Astronautical Congress. 2017, pp.
[BibTeX]

@inproceedings{ruf2017b, author = {O. Ruf and S. Busch and S. Dombrovski and K. Schilling}, title = {Challenges and Novel Approaches for Testing Large Numbers of Small Satellites}, booktitle = {68th International Astronautical Congress}, year = {2017}, volume = {68}, city = {Adelaide, Australia}, month = {August} }

[Abstract]

Recent innovations in space technologies and new applications led to a paradigm shift in spacecraft design – from multi-functional big single spacecraft towards small, distributed, networked satellites which promise a higher temporal resolution at significantly reduced cost and development time. Especially global Earth observation and communication services require a globe-spanning network consisting of a large number of small spacecraft collecting and transmitting the data. The growing amount of small satellites involved in a single mission introduces new challenges to spacecraft design, integration, testing and operations. Where previously one big satellite was integrated, tested and operated as a single unit, hundreds of small satellites require the same tasks to be performed in the future with regard to planned mega constellations – while being even more cost effective. Therefore, the effort for integration, testing and operation must not relate to the number of satellites. Novel approaches are required to overcome these challenges and to enable and facilitate future small satellite missions. This contribution addresses the mentioned challenges and provides an overview of approaches with focus on standardization and automation to enable rapid spacecraft design, integration and testing. This allows the economical usage of a large number of small satellites to enable big data applications.

Schilling, K.;
Perspectives for miniaturized, distributed, networked cooperating systems for space exploration
Robotics and Autonomous Systems . 2017, p. 118-124
[BibTeX] [PDF]

@article{Schilling2017k, author = {Klaus Schilling}, title = {Perspectives for miniaturized, distributed, networked cooperating systems for space exploration}, journal = {Robotics and Autonomous Systems }, month={April}, year = {2017}, DOI={https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.robot.2016.10.007} }

Schilling, K.; Walter, J.; Kounev, S.;
Spacecraft Autonomous Reaction Capabilities, Control Approaches, and Self-aware Computing
Self-Aware Computing Systems, Springer Verlag, (Eds.) Kounev, S., Kephart, J.O., Milenkoski, A. & Zhu, X. 2017, pp. 687 - 706
[BibTeX]

@article{Schilling2017a, author = {Klaus Schilling, Jürgen Walter, Samuel Kounev; }, title = {Spacecraft Autonomous Reaction Capabilities, Control Approaches, and Self-aware Computing}, editors = {Kounev, S., Kephart, J.O., Milenkoski, A., Zhu, X.}, journal = {Self-Aware Computing Systems, Springer Verlag}, year = {2017}, pages = {687-706} }

Schilling, K.; Tzschichholz, T.; Loureiro, G.; Zhang, Y.; Steyn, H.; Beltrame, G.; Lafontaine, J.; Schlacher, K.;
The Telematics International Mission TIM for 3D Earth Observation by Pico-Satellites
Proceedings Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2017), Beijing,. 2017, GLEX-17-12.1.4x36789
[BibTeX]

@inproceedings{Schilling2017b, author = {Klaus Schilling, Tristan Tzschichholz, Geilson Loureiroc, Yutu Zhang , Hermann Steyn Giovanni Beltrame, Jean de Lafontaine, Kurt Schlacher}, title = {The Telematics International Mission TIM for 3D Earth Observation by Pico-Satellites}, journal = {Proceedings Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2017), Beijing, }, year = {2017}, }

Schilling, K.; Tzschichholz, T.; Motroniuk, I.; Aumann, A.; Mammadov, I.; Ruf, O.; Schmidt, C.; Appel, N.; Kleinschrodt, A.; Montenegro, S.; Nuechter, A.;
TOM: A Formation for Photogrammetric Earth Observation by Three CubeSats
4th IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions, Roma,. 2017, IAA-AAS-CU-17-08-02
[BibTeX]

@inproceedings{Schilling2017g, author = {Klaus Schilling, Tristan Tzschichholz, Iurii Motroniuk, Anna Aumann, Ilham Mammadov, Oliver Ruf, Christopher Schmidt, Nicolas Appel, Alexander Kleinschrodt, Sergio Montenegro, Andreas Nüchter}, title = {TOM: A Formation for Photogrammetric Earth Observation by Three CubeSats}, journal = {4th IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions, Roma}, year = {2017}, }

Schilling, K.;
TIM – A Small Satellite Formation for Earth Observation
Proceedings 9th International Workshop on Satellite Constellations and Formation Flying, Boulder . 2017, IWSCFF 17-67
[BibTeX]

@inproceedings{Schilling2017c, author = {Klaus Schilling}, title = {TIM – A Small Satellite Formation for Earth Observation}, journal = {Proceedings 9th International Workshop on Satellite Constellations and Formation Flying }, city={Boulder}, month={June}, days={19-21}, year = {2017}, }

Steindorf, L.; Amico, S.; Scharnagl, J.; Kempf, F.; Schilling, K.;
Constrained low-thrust satellite formation-flying using relative orbital elements
27th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting. 2017
[BibTeX]

@inproceedings{Steindorf2017, address = {San Antonio, Texas, USA}, author = {Steindorf, Lukas M. and Amico, Simone D. and Scharnagl, Julian and Kempf, Florian and Schilling, Klaus}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 27th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting}, publisher = {AAS}, title = {{CONSTRAINED LOW-THRUST SATELLITE FORMATION-FLYING USING RELATIVE ORBIT ELEMENTS}}, year = {2017} }

[Abstract]

This paper proposes a continuous low-thrust guidance and control strategy for constrained satellite formation-flying in perturbed orbits of arbitrary eccentricity. The controller feeds back mean relative orbit elements (ROE) and is based on Lyapunov theory. A novel feedback gain matrix, which enables the spacecraft to autonomously apply thrust at fuel efficient locations is presented. The guidance strategy makes use of a reference governor, which is designed in ROE state-space in order to ensure that all constraints imposed on the formation-flying mission are satisfied. The reference governor can enforce wall, thrust and time constraints. To achieve near-optimal fuel consumption, an autonomous algorithm to leverage Ke- plerian dynamics is developed. Orbit perturbations include the differential Earth oblateness effect J2 and aerodynamic drag. The control and guidance strategy is developed for the nanosatellite formation-flying mission NetSat, which is devel- oped by the Zentrum f¨ ur Telematik e.V. NetSat will launch four identical space- craft into a low Earth orbit to demonstrate fully autonomous guidance, navigation and control with low-thrust electrical propulsion.

Zakšek, K.; Haber, R.; Tzschichholz, T.; Nogueira, T.; Dombrovski, S.; Busch, S.; Niklasch, N.; Schilling, K.;
Telematics Earth Observation Mission
IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation. 2017, IAA-B11-0409P
[BibTeX]

@inproceedings{haber2017b, author = {K. Zakšek and R. Haber and T. Tzschichholz and T. Nogueira and S. Dombrovski and S. Busch and K. Schilling}, title = {Telematics Earth Observation Mission}, booktitle = {IAA Symposium on Small Satellites for Earth Observation}, year = {2017}, city = {Berlin}, month = {April}, DOI = {IAA-B11-0409P} }

Zagorski, P; Bangert, P; Gallina, A;
Identification of the orbit semi-major axis using frequency properties of onboard magnetic field measurements
Aerospace Science and Technology. 2017, pp.380-391
[BibTeX]

@article{Zagorski2017380, title = "Identification of the orbit semi-major axis using frequency properties of onboard magnetic field measurements ", journal = "Aerospace Science and Technology ", volume = "66", number = "", pages = "380 - 391", year = "2017", note = "", issn = "1270-9638", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2017.03.024", url = "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1270963816310069", author = "P. Zagorski and P. Bangert and A. Gallina", }

[Abstract] [PDF]

Abstract In this paper a novel algorithm for estimating the satellite's semi-major axis is presented. The procedure makes solely use of measurements of the magnitude of the magnetic field and it is therefore independent of the satellite's attitude. Relying on the fact that the orbital motion is nearly periodic in nature and that the Earth's magnetic field has a spherical harmonic behavior, the magnetic signal measured on board is analyzed in the frequency domain. The identification procedure calculates characteristic frequencies of the satellite motion from the magnetic spectrum and relates them to the orbit semi-major axis. Simulations, hardware-in-the loop and real data analyses have been performed. They prove that the algorithm is capable of estimating the semi-major axis well within 1 km for a broad range of orbits. Considering the tiny requirements in terms of measurement and computational burdens, the procedure looks appealing especially for very small satellites.

Zhou, L.; Jian-jun, L.; Nogueira, T.; Schilling, K.;
Orbit design and control method for satellite clusters and its applications to NetSat project
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering. 2017, pp.
[BibTeX]

@article{zhou2017orbit, title={Orbit design and control method for satellite clusters and its applications to NetSat project}, author={Zhou, Liang and Luo, Jian-jun and Nogueira, Tiago and Schilling, Klaus}, journal={Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering}, pages={0954410017696109}, year={2017}, publisher={SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England} }