Guidance, navigation, and control for the eddy brake method

Abstract

Existing active debris removal methods that require physical contact with the target have applicability limitations depending on the maximum angular momentum that can be absorbed. Therefore, a detumbling phase before the capturing phase may be necessary. The aim of this paper is to study the guidance, navigation, and control subsystem of the “eddy brake,” which is an active contactless detumbling method based on the generation of eddy currents. The paper first presents this method and the main requirements for the control module, as well as the necessary sensors for pose estimation on board the chaser. Furthermore, the linear and rotational dynamics based on the magnetic tensor theory are explained in order to model the chaser–target interactions. In addition, the set of three-dimensional nonlinear dynamical equations that model the detumbling process are formulated including a specific control strategy, with possible inaccuracies and delays derived from the onboard sensors and actuators. Moreover, a stability analysis is developed in the vicinity of a stable asymptotic state for a simplified two-dimensional configuration where an analytical approach is viable. Finally, two case studies are presented on the Ariane-4 H10 and Ariane-5 Etage Propergols Stockables upper stages.

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