The first Irish satellite Eirsat-1 has successfully tested a new management system, that allows you to accurately orient the device in space. Achievement has become possible thanks to Wave-Based Control software platform (WBC), Developed by the team of the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Engineering at the University of College Dublin (UCD) To test new techniques in orbit maneuvering.
During a two -year mission, started after starting 1 December 2023 year, команда збирала дані про рухи супутника за допомогою бортових сенсорів. EIRSAT-1, кубсат розміром 22×10×10 см, використовує електромагніти для взаємодії з магнітним полем Землі, що є енергоефективним, but insufficient for accurate guidance. To overcome this UCD restriction in collaboration with Carnegie-Mellon University has developed a WBC algorithm, which makes the satellite rotate around one of the main axes, Like Dziga, providing stabilization and gradual reorientation to the target.
Testing, conducted for three orbits, showed, that the satellite has reached the accuracy of the guidance within a few degrees. Short periods without control occurred, When the satellite was in the shadow of the earth or because of sensors restriction, related to the alignment of the sun and the magnetic field, that met with expectations. Success confirmed the reliability of the algorithm in harsh space conditions.
This breakthrough contributes to the development of autonomy and intellectual systems for satellites. Mission data is used to improve the algorithms for assessing the inertial properties of the cubstat, that is important for future autonomous missions. Achievement supports the National Space Subsystems Initiative and Useful Loads (NSSPI), Running UCD in March 2024 year with the budget 7,9 million euros. NSSPI develops next generation management systems, that is critically important to such technologies, as an optical connection, where the smallest deviations can break the ligament.
Source: https://phys.org