Application of CMOS APS star tracker with large FOV in attitude and angular velocity determination

摘要

The paper deals with the spacecraft attitude determination problem using a new kind of star tracker with large FOV based on CMOS APS. Star tracker has been developed since 1970s and proved to be the most accurate sensor ever used in the spacecraft attitude determination systems. But the traditional CCD star tracker also has some disadvantages, such as small FOV, high power consumption, low sample rate and low working angular rate limit which prevent the use of CCD star tracker in attitude large angle maneuvering process. The new kind of star tracker based on CMOS APS has no such disadvantages and is more applicable on modern low-cost agile small satellites. Its higher sample rate and working angular rate limit over traditional CCD star tracker make it more adapt for spacecraft angular velocity determination. Because of the large FOV of the star tracker, the mathematical model of traditional CCD star tracker with a small FOV is not appropriate. So a new mathematical model was quoted to fit the star tracker with a large FOV. An alternative adaptive algorithm was also introduced in the paper. It can help the EKF algorithm work lacking of accurate covariance of the observation noise. An optimal estimation algorithm was used to estimate the angular velocity directly from the star tracker measurements. Mathematic simulation results indicate the CMOS APS star tracker can give accurate attitude information and estimated angular rate. The method can be used as the chief attitude determination system design of low-cost satellite without gyros, or be used as a backup strategy in the event of gyro failures to enhance the reliability of the attitude determination system.