Development and control of the Naval Postgraduate School Planar Autonomous Docking Simulator (NPADS)
Loading...
Authors
Porter, Robert D.
Subjects
Robotic arms
Robotics
LabVIEW
Autonomous docking
Satellite servicing
Motion control
Robotics
LabVIEW
Autonomous docking
Satellite servicing
Motion control
Advisors
Spencer, Michael G.
Date of Issue
2002-09
Date
December 2002
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The objective of this thesis was to design, construct and develop the initial autonomous control algorithm for the NPS Planar Autonomous Docking Simulator (NPADS). The effort included hardware design, fabrication, installation and integration; mass property determination; and the development and testing of control laws utilizing MATLAB and Simulink for modeling and LabView for NPADS control. The NPADS vehicle uses air pads and a granite table to simulate a 2-D, drag-free, zero-g space environment. It is a completely self-contained vehicle equipped with eight cold-gas, bang-bang type thrusters and a reaction wheel for motion control. A "star sensor" CCD camera locates the vehicle on the table while a color CCD docking camera and two robotic arms will locate and dock with a target vehicle. The on-board computer system leverages PXI technology and a single source, simplifying systems integration. The vehicle is powered by two lead-acid batteries for completely autonomous operation. A graphical user interface and wireless Ethernet enable the user to command and monitor the vehicle from a remote command and data acquisition computer. Two control algorithms were developed and allow the user to either control the thrusters and reaction wheel manually or simply specify a desired location.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Aeronautics and Astronautics
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv, 85 p. : ill. (some col.)
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.