AttSim
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AttSim is a versatile and powerful Attitude Control System (ACS) simulator and flight software development platform. It simulates the spacecraft position, attitude and environmental factors such as atmospheric density (MSIS-86), the geomagnetic field (IGRF), and sunlight or Earth shadow conditions. AttSim supports all phases of the ACS development process with the following five controllers (additional controllers can be developed and integrated):
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Windows 1 and 2 show the unit sphere (near and far side) with the spacecraft in its center. The satellite's pitch axis can be seen in Window 1. Window 3 shows simulator output, Window 4 the nadir vector in spacecraft coordinates and Window 5 controller telemetry. |
Attsim simplifies the ACS design and software development process because it allows early performance evaluation and system sizing with the AttSim-internal "flight control code". The control code is "firewalled" from the simulation to ensure that only the input or "real" data is used for control. After adaptation to the flight computer environment, AttSim can also serve as the Hardware-in-the-loop simulator and test platform. During preliminary development, AttSim can be used to size actuators, such as momentum wheels, thrusters, or torquers. This is particularly important with respect to long-term momentum management, actuator saturation effects or in cases where the disturbance torques depend on the vehicle's attitude. AttSim can also be used to analyze attitude control system performance and related parameters, allowing selection of the right sensor, possibly at the lowest cost. It allows verifying software algorithms-such as filters, to improve sensor measurements, and performing trade studies on hardware versus software requirements definition. AttSim runs on a Pentium PC and requires a C-compiler, because the program and the controller software are only available as source code. |
Download an AttSim demonstration |
Email us at
microcosm@smad.com
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