Actuators with Two Double Gimbal Magnetically Suspended Control Moment Gyros for the Attitude Control of the Satellites

The paper proposes a novel automatic control system for the attitude of the mini-satellites equipped with an actuator having <i>N</i> = 2 DGMSCMGs (Double Gimbal Magnetically Suspended Control Moment Gyros) in parallel and orthogonal configuration, as well as a DGMSCMG-type sensor for the measurement of the satellite absolute angular rate. The proportional-derivative controller, designed based on the Lyapunov-functions theory, elaborates the control law according to which the angular rates applied to the servo systems for the actuation of the DGMSCMGs gyroscopic gimbals are computed. The gimbal's angular rates create gyroscopic couples acting on the satellite in order to control its attitude with respect to the local orbital frame. The new proposed control architecture was software implemented and validated, and the analysis of the obtained results proved the cancellation of the convergence errors and excellent angular rate precision.