Ensuring of Relative Navigation and Control of Low-Orbital Microsatellites Formation in the Task of Remote Control of Robots

摘要

The article discusses the problem of providing optimal relative navigation and flight control of a group of satellites for remote control of robots operating at a great distance from the command post. It is necessary to provide the intensive data exchange between command post and robot (or several robots) by radio communication without essential delay in signals transmission. The geostationary satellites cannot work without a delay corresponding to their high orbit. That is why the low-orbit micro satellites must be used. To make them smaller and cheaper only one directional antenna is installed at each satellite and it is aimed at the desired point on the earth by the angular orientation of the satellite itself. Three small reaction wheels are used as the actuators for correct functioning of orientation system. For easy radio communication between satellites the distance between them has to be not more than 100m, and the task of keeping such formation is solving automatically with application of several electro-reaction engines. The requirements to all onboard automatic systems and equipment are estimated.