A new steering approach for VSCMGs with high precision

A new variable speed control moment gyro (VSCMG) steering law is proposed in order to achieve higher torque precision. The dynamics of VSCMGs is established, and two work modes are then designed according to command torque: control momentum gyro (CMG)/reaction wheel (RW) hybrid mode for the large torque case and RW single mode for the small. When working in the CMG/RW hybrid mode, the steering law deals with the gimbal dead-zone nonlinearity through compensation by RW sub-mode. This is in contrast to the conventional CMG singularity avoidance and wheel speed equalization, as well as the proof of definitely hyperbolic singular property of the CMG sub-mode. When working in the RW single mode, the motion of gimbals will be locked. Both the transition from CMG/RW hybrid mode to RW single mode and the reverse are studied. During the transition, wheel speed equalization and singularity avoidance of both the CMG and RW sub-modes are considered. A steering law for the RWs with locked gimbals is presented. It is shown by simulations that the VSCMGs with this new steering law could reach a better torque precision than the normal CMGs in the case of both large and small torques.