Platform for Spacecraft Attitude and Control Modeling

During my senior year of Undergrad, I worked on a research project with my Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Controls professor, Dr. Bradley Wall, to design and build a one-dimensional satellite model. The goal of the project was to develop a platform to test and validate different control schemes used in class on a physical system. I used Simulink to develop the simulated plant and the control law that ended up on the model. The picture below shows the final iteration of the design that is powered by an Arduino-controlled reaction wheel.

This research project was funded by the ERAU Undergraduate Research Institute and Arizona Space Grant. As part of the Arizona Space Grant, I also presented my process and findings to a group of industry professionals. This research project was one of my first introductions to the real-world applications of our controls theory and into hardware in the loop control for a physical system.