Sequential quadratic programming-based non-cooperative target distributed hybrid processing optimization method

The distributed hybrid processing optimization problem of non-cooperative targets is an important research direction for future networked air-defense and anti-missile firepower systems. In this paper, the air-defense anti-missile targets defense problem is abstracted as a nonconvex constrained combinatorial optimization problem with the optimization objective of maximizing the degree of contribution of the processing scheme to non-cooperative targets, and the constraints mainly consider geographical conditions and anti-missile equipment resources. The grid discretization concept is used to partition the defense area into network nodes, and the overall defense strategy scheme is described as a nonlinear programming problem to solve the minimum defense cost within the maximum defense capability of the defense system network. In the solution of the minimum defense cost problem, the processing scheme, equipment coverage capability, constraints and node cost requirements are characterized, then a nonlinear mathematical model of the non-cooperative target distributed hybrid processing optimization problem is established, and a local optimal solution based on the sequential quadratic programming algorithm is constructed, and the optimal firepower processing scheme is given by using the sequential quadratic programming method containing non-convex quadratic equations and inequality constraints. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulation examples.

A DNN based trajectory optimization method for intercepting non-cooperative maneuvering spacecraft

Current successes in artificial intelligence domain have revitalized interest in neural networks and demonstrated their potential in solving spacecraft trajectory optimization problems. This paper presents a data-free deep neural network(DNN) based trajectory optimization method for intercepting noncooperative maneuvering spacecraft, in a continuous low-thrust scenario. Firstly, the problem is formulated as a standard constrained optimization problem through differential game theory and minimax principle. Secondly, a new DNN is designed to integrate interception dynamic model into the network and involve it in the process of gradient descent, which makes the network endowed with the knowledge of physical constraints and reduces the learning burden of the network. Thus, a DNN based method is proposed, which completely eliminates the demand of training datasets and improves the generalization capacity. Finally, numerical results demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of our proposed method.

Impedance control of multi-arm space robot for the capture of non-cooperative targets

Robotic systems are expected to play an increasingly important role in future space activities. The robotic on-orbital service, whose key is the capturing technology, becomes a research hot spot in recent years. This paper studies the dynamics modeling and impedance control of a multi-arm free-flying space robotic system capturing a non-cooperative target. Firstly, a control-oriented dynamics model is essential in control algorithm design and code realization. Unlike a numerical algorithm, an analytical approach is suggested. Using a general and a quasi-coordinate Lagrangian formulation, the kinematics and dynamics equations are derived.Then, an impedance control algorithm is developed which allows coordinated control of the multiple manipulators to capture a target.Through enforcing a reference impedance, end-effectors behave like a mass-damper-spring system fixed in inertial space in reaction to any contact force between the capture hands and the target. Meanwhile, the position and the attitude of the base are maintained stably by using gas jet thrusters to work against the manipulators' reaction. Finally, a simulation by using a space robot with two manipulators and a free-floating non-cooperative target is illustrated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Design of a Non-cooperative Target Capture Mechanism

A passive compliant non-cooperative target capture mechanism is designed to maintain the non-cooperative target on-orbit. When the relative position between capture mechanism and satellite is confirmed,a pair of four-bar linkages lock the docking ring,which is used for connecting the satellite and the rocket. The mathematical model of capture mechanism and capture space is built by the Denavit-Hartenberg(D-H)method,and the torque of each joint is analyzed by the Lagrange dynamic equation. Besides,the capture condition and the torque of every joint under different capture conditions are analyzed by simulation in MSC. Adams. The results indicate that the mechanism can capture the non-cooperative target satellite in a wide range. During the process of capture,the passive compliant mechanism at the bottom can increase capture space,thereby reducing the difficulty and enhance stability of the capture.

Design of a Flexible Capture Mechanism Inspired by Sea Anemone for Non-cooperative Targets

Robotic grippers have been used in industry as end-effectors but are usually limited to operations in pre-defined workspace.However,few devices can capture irregularly shaped dynamic targets in space,underwater and other unstructured environments.In this paper,a novel continuum arm group mechanism inspired by the morphology and motions of sea anemones is proposed.It is able to dissipate and absorb the kinetic energy of a fast moving target in omni-direction and utilize multiple arms to wrap and lock the target without accurate positioning control.Wire-driven actuation systems are implemented in the individual continuum arms,achieving both bending motion and stiffness regulation.Through finite element method,the influence of different configurations of the continuum arm group on the capture performance is analyzed.A robotic prototype is constructed and tested,showing the presented arm group mechanism has high adaptability to capture targets with different sizes,shapes,and incident angles.

Non-cooperative target pose estimation based on improved iterative closest point algorithm

For localisation of unknown non-cooperative targets in space,the existence of interference points causes inaccuracy of pose estimation while utilizing point cloud registration.To address this issue,this paper proposes a new iterative closest point(ICP)algorithm combined with distributed weights to intensify the dependability and robustness of the non-cooperative target localisation.As interference points in space have not yet been extensively studied,we classify them into two broad categories,far interference points and near interference points.For the former,the statistical outlier elimination algorithm is employed.For the latter,the Gaussian distributed weights,simultaneously valuing with the variation of the Euclidean distance from each point to the centroid,are commingled to the traditional ICP algorithm.In each iteration,the weight matrix W in connection with the overall localisation is obtained,and the singular value decomposition is adopted to accomplish high-precision estimation of the target pose.Finally,the experiments are implemented by shooting the satellite model and setting the position of interference points.The outcomes suggest that the proposed algorithm can effectively suppress interference points and enhance the accuracy of non-cooperative target pose estimation.When the interference point number reaches about 700,the average error of angle is superior to 0.88°.

Multi-Feature Fusion Based Relative Pose Adaptive Estimation for On-Orbit Servicing of Non-Cooperative Spacecraft

On-orbit servicing, such as spacecraft maintenance, on-orbit assembly, refueling, and de-orbiting, can reduce the cost of space missions, improve the performance of spacecraft, and extend its life span. The relative state between the servicing and target spacecraft is vital for on-orbit servicing missions, especially the final approaching stage. The major challenge of this stage is that the observed features of the target are incomplete or are constantly changing due to the short distance and limited Field of View (FOV) of camera. Different from cooperative spacecraft, non-cooperative target does not have artificial feature markers. Therefore, contour features, including triangle supports of solar array, docking ring, and corner points of the spacecraft body, are used as the measuring features. To overcome the drawback of FOV limitation and imaging ambiguity of the camera, a "selfie stick" structure and a self-calibration strategy were implemented, ensuring that part of the contour features could be observed precisely when the two spacecraft approached each other. The observed features were constantly changing as the relative distance shortened. It was difficult to build a unified measurement model for different types of features, including points, line segments, and circle. Therefore, dual quaternion was implemented to model the relative dynamics and measuring features. With the consideration of state uncertainty of the target, a fuzzy adaptive strong tracking filter( FASTF) combining fuzzy logic adaptive controller (FLAC) with strong tracking filter(STF) was designed to robustly estimate the relative states between the servicing spacecraft and the target. Finally, the effectiveness of the strategy was verified by mathematical simulation. The achievement of this research provides a theoretical and technical foundation for future on-orbit servicing missions.

Accurate 3D geometry measurement for non-cooperative spacecraft with an unfocused light-field camera

This work explores an alternative 3D geometry measurement method for non-cooperative spacecraft guiding navigation and proximity operations.From one snapshot of an unfocused light-field camera, the 3D point cloud of a non-cooperative spacecraft can be calculated from sub-aperture images with the epipolar plane image(EPI) based light-field rendering algorithm.A Chang'e-3 model(7.2 cm×5.6 cm×7.0 cm) is tested to validate the proposed technique.Three measurement distances(1.0 m, 1.2 m, 1.5 m) are considered to simulate different approaching stages.Measuring errors are quantified by comparing the light-field camera data with a high precision commercial laser scanner.The mean error distance for the three cases are 0.837 mm, 0.743 mm, and 0.973 mm respectively, indicating that the method can well reconstruct 3D geometry of a non-cooperative spacecraft with a densely distributed 3D point cloud and is thus promising in space-related missions.

A Method to Obtain the Moving Speed of Uncooperative Target Based on Only Two Measurements

The existing research results show that a fixed single station must conduct three consecutive frequency shift measurements and obtain the target’s moving speed by constructing two frequency difference equations. This article proposes a new method that requires only two consecutive measurements. While using the azimuth measurement to obtain the angular difference between two radial distances, it also conducts two consecutive Doppler frequency shift measurements at the same target azimuth. On the basis of this measurement, a frequency difference equation is first constructed and solved jointly with the Doppler frequency shift equation. By eliminating the velocity variable and using the measured angular difference to obtain the target’s lead angle, the target’s velocity can be solved by using the Doppler frequency shift equation again. The new method avoids the condition that the target must move equidistantly, which not only provides an achievable method for engineering applications but also lays a good foundation for further exploring the use of steady-state signals to achieve passive positioning.

An innovative inertial parameters identification method for non-cooperative space targets based on electrostatic interaction

Inertial characteristics of non-cooperative targets are crucial for space capture and sub-sequent on-orbit servicing.Previous methods for identifying inertial parameters involve proximity operations,which are associated with the risk of collision with non-cooperative targets.This paper introduces a long-range,contactless method for identifying the inertial parameters of a non-cooperative target during the pre-capture phase.Specifically,electrostatic interaction is used as an external excitation to alter the target's motion.A force estimation algorithm that uses measure-ments from visual and potential sensors is proposed to estimate the electrostatic interaction and eliminate the need for force sensors.Furthermore,a recursive estimation-identification framework is presented to concurrently estimate the coupled motion state,weak electrostatic interaction,and inertial parameters of the target.The simulation results show that the proposed method extends the identification distance to 170 times that of the previous method while maintaining high identifica-tion precision forall parameters.

Analytic optimal pose tracking control in close-range proximity operations with a non-cooperative target

This paper investigates an analytical optimal pose tracking control problem for chaser spacecraft during the close-range proximity operations with a non-cooperative space target subject to attitude tumbling and unknown orbital maneuvering.Firstly,the relative translational motion between the orbital target and the chaser spacecraft is described in the Line-of-Sight(LOS)coordinate frame along with attitude quaternion dynamics.Then,based on the coupled 6-Degree of Freedom(DOF)pose dynamic model,an analytical optimal control action consisting of constrained optimal control value,application time and its duration are proposed via exploring the iterative sequential action control algorithm.Meanwhile,the global closed-loop asymptotic stability of the proposed predictive control action is presented and discussed.Compared with traditional proximity control schemes,the highlighting advantages are that the application time and duration of the devised controller is applied discretely in light of the influence of the instantaneous pose configuration on the pose tracking performance with less energy consumptions rather than at each sample time.Finally,three groups of illustrative examples are organized to validate the effectiveness of the proposed analytical optimal pose tracking control scheme.

Robust attitude control for rapid multi-target tracking in spacecraft formation flying

A robust attitude tracking control scheme for spacecraft formation flying is presented. The leader spacecraft with a rapid mobile antenna and a camera is modeled. While the camera is tracking the ground target, the antenna is tracking the follower spacecraft. By an angular velocity constraint and an angular constraint, two methods are proposed to compute the reference attitude profiles of the camera and antenna, respectively. To simplify the control design problem, this paper first derives the desired inverse system （DIS）, which can convert the attitude tracking problem of 3D space into the regulator problem. Based on DIS and sliding mode control （SMC）, a robust attitude tracking controller is developed in the presence of mass parameter uncertainties and external disturbance. By Lyapunov stability theory, the closed loop system stability can be achieved. The numerical simulations show that the proposed robust control scheme exhibits significant advantages for the multi-target attitude tracking of a two-spacecraft formation.

Non-cooperative spacecraft proximity control considering target behavior uncertainty

The significant characteristics of space non-cooperative targets include the uncertainties of dynamic parameters and behaviors.Herein,a hybrid proximity control strategy adapted to the behavior uncertainty of a non-cooperative target is presented.First,the relative motion dynamics between the chaser and target is established in the geocentric inertial coordinate system and transcribed based on the chaser spacecraft body coordinate system.Subsequently,to facilitate proximity control under uncertain conditions,an extended state observer is designed to estimate and compensate for the total uncertainty in the relative motion dynamics.Finally,an event-triggered sliding mode control law is designed to track the target with behavior uncertainty and realize synchronization.Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed proximity control strategy for both tumbling and maneuvering targets.

双光梳测距技术的空间应用与试验设计

双光梳测距技术具有测量精度高、测速快、非模糊范围大和可现场溯源的优势,在航天工程中具有广阔的应用前景,如航天器交会对接、卫星编队飞行、大型展开机构定位等。在货运飞船与空间站交会对接的任务场景下,提出了一种双光梳高精度测距技术空间应用与试验方案,介绍了双光梳测距技术的基本原理,对试验系统进行了架构设计,实现在400 m范围内对空间动态合作目标优于100μm测距精度、1 kHz测量带宽。进一步针对测距系统的关键参数进行了设计与仿真,对系统的空间环境适应性进行了分析,结果表明测距系统最大可实现19.5 m/s相对运动速度下的高精度测距,满足搭载任务场景需求,为下一步双光梳测距技术的在轨试验与航天工程化应用提供了技术参考。

A grasp planning algorithm under uneven contact point distribution scenario for space non-cooperative target capture

The contact point configuration should be carefully chosen to ensure a stable capture,especially for the non-cooperative target capture mission using multi-armed spacecraft.In this work scenario,the contact points on the base and on the arms are distributed on the opposite side of the target.Otherwise,large forces will be needed.To cope with this problem,an uneven-oriented distribution union criterion is proposed.The union criterion contains a virtual symmetrical criterion and a geometry criterion.The virtual symmetrical contact point criterion is derived from the proof of the force closure principle using computational geometry to ensure a stable grasp,and the geometry criterion is calculated by the volume of the minimum polyhedron formed by the contact points to get a wide-range distribution.To further accelerate the optimization rate and enhance the global search ability,a line array modeling method and a continuous-discrete global search algorithm are proposed.The line array modeling method reduces the workload of calculating the descent direction and the gradient available,while the continuous-discrete global search algorithm reducing the optimization dimension.Then a highly efficient grasping is achieved and the corresponding contact point is calculated.Finally,an exhaustive verification is conducted to numerically analyze the disturbance resistance ability,and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

载人航天器交会对接灯故障目标检测模型

为了实现载人航天器综合测试期间交会对接灯故障的快速准确识别,提出了一种应用改进YOLO v8模型+注意力机制的交会对接灯故障目标检测模型。该模型在改进YOLO v8模型的基础上,在加强特征提取网络上引入注意力机制模块,对故障目标给予更多关注,提高了密集小目标识别精度。同时,在自制灯数据集上进行仿真试验。试验结果表明:文章提出的模型平均准确率提高为0.91,可以对灯的部分点失效故障目标进行快速、有效识别,为载人航天器综合测试期间交会对接灯智能巡检提供了一种新思路。

A parallel pipeline connected-component labeling method for on-orbit space target monitoring

The paper designs a peripheral maximum gray differ-ence(PMGD)image segmentation method,a connected-compo-nent labeling(CCL)algorithm based on dynamic run length(DRL),and a real-time implementation streaming processor for DRL-CCL.And it verifies the function and performance in space target monitoring scene by the carrying experiment of Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft(TZ-3).The PMGD image segmentation method can segment the image into highly discrete and simple point tar-gets quickly,which reduces the generation of equivalences greatly and improves the real-time performance for DRL-CCL.Through parallel pipeline design,the storage of the streaming processor is optimized by 55%with no need for external me-mory,the logic is optimized by 60%,and the energy efficiency ratio is 12 times than that of the graphics processing unit,62 times than that of the digital signal proccessing,and 147 times than that of personal computers.Analyzing the results of 8756 images completed on-orbit,the speed is up to 5.88 FPS and the target detection rate is 100%.Our algorithm and implementation method meet the requirements of lightweight,high real-time,strong robustness,full-time,and stable operation in space irradia-tion environment.

混合空间目标下的多航天器抵近观测任务规划

研究了服务航天器对多个空间目标的抵近观测任务规划问题,并考虑了高价值航天器、普通航天器以及失效航天器或空间碎片3类待观测目标。通过构建合理的评价体系,对目标观测的任务方案进行评分。建立了综合观测目标数量、观测目标类型、燃料消耗、单次点火速度增量以及任务时长的多约束优化模型,涉及的优化变量包括目标分配向量、观测次序向量以及观测时刻向量。服务航天器通过一种四脉冲机动策略抵近每个目标。采用进化算法求解规划问题,并提出一种基于动态规划(DP)的局部搜索策略以优化观测时刻,提升优化效率。最后分别给出了针对单一类型和混合类型空间目标的抵近观测任务规划算例,通过与传统进化算法的求解结果对比,说明了所提出的DP搜索策略的优势。

一种超轻量化卫星目标形心定位算法

天基光电探测单元具有视场角大、载重小和机动灵活的特性,在空间作业的监视任务中有重要应用,其中卫星目标的识别和形心定位是其重要功能之一。由于目前在轨载荷处理器的算力较弱,在近距离测角任务中无法使用深度神经网络算法进行复杂定位。针对这一问题,深入分析了目标的特点,依据卫星几何特性设计了一种超轻量化实时处理方法。该算法设计了直线特征和帆板边缘特征提取器,提出了一种利用特殊几何关键点计算目标最小外接矩形的策略,提升外接矩形与目标边缘的贴合度。算法在仿真数据集上进行了测试,并在物理模拟试验场采集的影像数据上进行了验证。测试结果表明,算法的检测精度优于主流深度学习目标检测网络Yolov5n,计算量仅为对比算法的10%。在嵌入式实时处理平台上移植后,实时定位速度可达到5 120×5 120@5 fps。在验证环境下,基于所提算法形心定位的结果进行测角,测角精度优于0.05°,满足应用场景的精度要求。

空间站舱段或目标航天器自主捕获及转位方案

在空间站的建造和使用过程中,需要应用机械臂对不同舱段或目标航天器进行多次自主捕获及转位操作。文章提出应用机械臂实现空间站舱段或目标航天器自主捕获及转位的方案。其中:信息流方案中明确信息系统的构建方案,着重说明各类型数据的传输路径及方式;操控方案明确空间站舱段或目标航天器自主捕获及转位的整体操控方法,着重说明具有良好复用性并可自主执行的模块化设计过程。通过地面测试验证及在轨空间站机械臂转位货运飞船试验,对信息流方案和操控方案进行验证。结果表明:应用机械臂的空间站舱段或目标航天器自主捕获及转位方案设计正确,能够实现高实时性、自主控制、可复用的空间站舱段或目标航天器自主捕获及转位,可为后续空间站的建造及机械臂的使用打下很好的基础。