ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-11017
Open Date: 13/10/2021 10:22 CEST
Closing Date: 24/11/2021 13:00 CEST

Objectives: To demonstrate the capability of attitude control and estimator system to adapt to changes in dynamical and environmental properties and ensure performance robustness to variations/uncertainties.Description: The design process of a typical attitude and orbit control system (AOCS) involves the significant effort of tuning and validation of static controllers or state estimators, calibrated for each mission phase/mode. The transition between these controllers/observers may occur without performance guarantee, as well as provoking settling impacts. The tuning effort and Verification and Validation (VV) process can be improved by Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) techniques. The adaptable techniques are natural extension of classical, static Linear Time Invariant (LTI) methods, characterized by smooth dependency on scheduling parameters. LPV methods rely on numerous established tools and techniques to tune, analyse and predict closed-loop behaviour. The resulting LPV systems guarantee by design that robust stability and performance metrics are met in the presence of plant uncertainty and possible variations.Examples of application of adaptable control estimation techniques in space systems include:- automatic robust re-tuning following shifts in the inertial properties or after changes in spectral characteristics of perturbations/sensor noise [e.g. control of spacecraft with flexible dynamics, deployment phases, close proximity approach or steering guidance of Control Momentum Gyro -CMGs- actuator]- digitalisation and automation of AOCS tuning for product line series production (EO and SatCom)- online diagnosis and performance verification (e.g. predictive maintenance) – fault detection and outlier detection (towards fault-tolerant control system implementation).This activity focuses on demonstrating the capabilities of adaptable control and state estimation techniques for the AOCS design on a set of challenging benchmark problems using flight-like COTS processors. Benefits that could be gained over other heritage techniques shall be assessed.The activity encompasses the following tasks:- Literature review of current state of the art, gap identification- Benchmark problems definition, requirements capture and performance metrics- Definition and tuning of the LPV algorithms- Validation verification campaign, performance assessment, identification of limitations- Hardware-in-the-loop testing of the benchmark mission and the LPV methods- Conclusion and recommendations of the study

Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Maxime Nicolas Gislain Guy
Initiating Service: TEC-SAA
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 5-C-II-Advanced Control, Estimation & Optimisation
Products Keywords: 2-A-5-a-SW for AOCS&GNC design, analysis, simulation, etc.