Aerospace Control Design
SC Solutions develops attitude
controllers, station-keeping control systems, and other software used in the
design of control systems for modern communications
satellites.
We have developed and implemented many custom applications over the years, including GUI-driven stand-alone tools for analysis and simulation of various spacecraft operating modes. A typical simulation contains a complete representation of the spacecraft dynamics and operating software. The tools developed by SC include full dynamic model of the spacecraft (including sensor and actuator dynamics, external disturbances), and on-board control software. These tools are routinely used to design and test controller gains, analyze on-orbit performance, and manage multiple simulations distributed over a computer network.
Our other aerospace projects have been in the areas of aircraft control, propulsion control, rotorcraft control, control of large flexible structures, and space robotic systems. Our experience includes:
- Design Methods for Integrated Control Systems (DMICS), whereby a hierarchical decentralized control structure was developed and demonstrated for aerospace systems,
- Short Take-Off / Vertical Landing (STOVL), the DMICS methodology was applied to short takeoff and land applications,
- Robust Control Law Development for Modern Aerospace Vehicles (MAVRIC), H-infinity and mu-synthesis approaches were developed for aerospace systems,
- AIAA Design Challenge Benchmark.
In all of these programs, robust control approaches were applied to modern aircraft, spacecraft, and turbofan propulsion systems. Our project experience in large flexible structures includes PCOS and ACOSS. We also have extensive experience in system identification of aerospace systems.