Hardware-in-the-Loop GPS Test Facility for Spacecraft Autonomous Rendezvous

T. Ebinuma, R. H. Bishop and E. G. Lightsey

Abstract:	A hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) GPS test facil- ity was constructed and configured to evaluate the newly developed relative algorithms integrated with on-board targeting from real-time navigation data provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS). The experiments were conducted using a user- programmable Mitel GPS Architect reciever modified for space applications. The GPS signals are simulated by a Global Simulation Systems (GSS) STR4760 GPS signal simulator, which is closed-loop capable with an external satellite motion generator. An extended Kalman filter was employed for real-time absolute and relative navigation of two space vehicles in low Earth orbit (LEO). The closed-loop simulation investigations show that a 5 cm or less relative positioning accuracy and 1.2 mm/s relative velocity estimation accuracy are achievable in the absence of multipath. With these highly accurate relative navigation results, the notion of fully autonomous rendezvous becomes plausible.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2001) September 11 - 14, 2001 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	2286 - 2293
Cite this article:	Ebinuma, T., Bishop, R. H., Lightsey, E. G., "Hardware-in-the-Loop GPS Test Facility for Spacecraft Autonomous Rendezvous," Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2001), Salt Lake City, UT, September 2001, pp. 2286-2293.
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