Title :
Covariance intersection algorithm for distributed spacecraft state estimation
Author :
Arambel, Pablo O. ; Rago, Constantino ; Mehra, Raman K.
Author_Institution :
Sci. Syst. Co. Inc., Woburn, MA, USA
Abstract :
The use of a fleet of highly synchronized spacecraft to synthesize a space-based optical interferometer, as envisioned by the TPF mission of NASA Origins program, will allow for baselines large enough to achieve milli-arcsecond resolutions. We explore the use of the covariance intersection (CI) algorithm for state estimation of distributed spacecraft. The CI algorithm provides a mechanism for fusing two or more random variables with unknown cross-covariance such that the computed covariance of the new estimate is consistent. We consider the case of five spacecraft with a decentralized estimation scheme where each spacecraft shares its own estimates with the rest of the fleet using a ring-type communication architecture. This simplified scenario of the TPF mission is used to highlight the problems that can originate if the cross-covariances are completely ignored. The result shows that the CI filter performance instead is not affected and provides good estimates
Keywords :
aerospace control; filtering theory; space vehicles; state estimation; NASA; TPF mission; covariance intersection filter; cross-covariance; spacecraft; state estimation; Computer architecture; Instruments; NASA; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; Random variables; Robustness; Space technology; Space vehicles; State estimation;
Conference_Titel :
American Control Conference, 2001. Proceedings of the 2001
Conference_Location :
Arlington, VA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-6495-3
DOI :
10.1109/ACC.2001.945670