The design of a digital version of the solar pointing attitude rocket control system (SPARCS) posed the challenge of designing a new test platform. This platform should be capable of providing a broad evaluation of the control system in a cost effective manner. Previously, evaluating a control system consisted of performing a long and tedious procedure that tested the response of the system to individual excitations of sensor. The SPARCS attitude control system evaluator is designed to provide dynamic simulation of a rigid free body with controlled thrusters, and rate and attitude sensors. It interfaces directly with the digital control system and its design allows rapid, inexpensive and comprehensive evaluation of the attitude control system electronics, control equations and flight parameters. This evaluation consists mainly of assuring target acquisition, verifying critically damped pitch, yaw and roll payload maneuvers, and validating control system stability margins. The system yields results that are very close to those obtained in actual flights and is helping to improve performance and add new capabilities to SPARCS.

Date Published: 2 November 1998
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 3442, Missions to the Sun II, (2 November 1998); doi: 10.1117/12.330254

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3442:
Missions to the Sun II
Clarence M. Korendyke, Editor(s)