A multiobjective, multidisciplinary design optimization methodology for the conceptual design of distributed satellite systems

摘要

A multiobjective, multidisciplinary design optimization methodology for mathematically modeling the distributed satellite system (DSS) conceptual design problem as an optimization problem has been developed to advance the state-of-the-art in complex distributed satellite network design. An increasing number of space missions are utilizing DSS architectures in which multiple satellites work in a coordinated fashion to improve system performance, cost, and survivability. The trade space for distributed satellite systems can be enormous - too large to enumerate, analyze, and compare all possible architectures. The seven-step methodology enables an efficient search of the trade space for the best families of architectures, and explores architectures that might not otherwise be considered during the conceptual design phase, the phase of a DSS program in which the majority of lifecycle cost gets locked in. Four classes of multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) techniques are investigated - Taguchi, heuristic, gradient, and univariate methods. The heuristic simulated annealing (SA) algorithm found the best DSS architectures with the greatest consistency due to its ability to escape local optima within a nonconvex trade space. Accordingly, this SA algorithm forms the core single objective MDO algorithm in the methodology. The DSS conceptual design problem scope is then broadened by expanding from single objective to multiobjective optimization problems, and two variant multiobjective SA algorithms are developed.