Low-Thrust Trajectory Correction Using Statistical Maneuver Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric propulsion systems in vehicles face challenges in accurately maintaining trajectories due to perturbations and computational inefficiencies, leading to vehicles straying from reference paths over time, with conventional approaches failing to timely correct for maneuver and orbit determination errors.
Innovation Solution
A terrestrial-based system employs trajectory simulation and optimization techniques, including Monte Carlo simulations and indirect optimization, to generate and evaluate various trajectories, accounting for errors and perturbations, and adjusts maneuver profiles to ensure vehicles reach specified targets with high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Monte Carlo simulations are used to account for errors and perturbations, then trajectory accuracy is improved, but computational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary Monte Carlo simulations during the trajectory design phase to pre-determine probabilistic success rates for various maneuver profiles. This allows the spacecraft to select optimal maneuvers without performing complex simulations in real-time during flight, thus improving trajectory accuracy while managing computational time constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a limited number of Monte Carlo simulations (e.g., 10-100 iterations) rather than exhaustive simulations, providing sufficient statistical confidence for maneuver selection without excessive computational burden. This partial action approach balances trajectory accuracy with computational efficiency.
2Reliability
If conventional approaches are used for trajectory correction, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to timely correct errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual trajectory deviations and feeds this information back to update the probabilistic models and select corrected maneuver profiles. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable trajectory correction by adapting to actual flight conditions while using pre-computed maneuver databases to avoid excessive real-time computational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts maneuver selection based on real-time trajectory state and pre-computed probabilistic success rates. Rather than using fixed correction protocols, the system adapts maneuver choices according to current flight conditions, improving reliability while using pre-processing to manage computational demands.
Data Source
AI summary
A trajectory determination engine configured to determine one or more trajectories for an extraterrestrial vehicle. The trajectory determination system is further configured to: obtain a reference trajectory for an extraterrestrial vehicle from an initial state of the extraterrestrial vehicle to a user-specified target; receive a plurality of simulated flights that each represent a computation of a truth trajectory for a corresponding extraterrestrial vehicle in which an error is introduced such that the corresponding extraterrestrial vehicle is off-path from the reference trajectory by the error; select one of the truth trajectories for the extraterrestrial vehicle based on estimated movement of the extraterrestrial vehicle from the initial state towards the user-specified target; obtain a thrust profile that allows the extraterrestrial vehicle to adjust movement towards the user-specified target; and generate an updated truth trajectory for the extraterrestrial vehicle by combining the truth trajectory with the thrust profile.