2014.1 Release Notes

Version 2014.1 was released in July, 2014. New features include:

• High Accuracy Stellar Attitude Determination System Design
• Cutting Edge Planetary Lander Algorithms
• Design Interplanetary Mission Trajectories
• Multiple Planetary Environments
• New Spacecraft Dynamics

For more information, see the 2014 Toolbox Release brochure.

(Click here for a complete list of newly added functions)

High Accuracy Stellar Attitude Determination System Design

Star cameras have always been the choice for high accuracy pointing. The Spacecraft Control Toolbox provides you with functions to guide you through each step of stellar attitude determination system design from camera design through algorithm implementation.

Our new functions in this release provide high accuracy models of the pixel array as well as optical design. Release 2014.1 includes new functions for point-spread functions, detector noise models, and coarse and precise centroiding algorithms. You can combine these tools with our suite of Kalman Filter based stellar attitude determination algorithms for a complete solution. The Spacecraft Control Toolbox allows you to design your attitude determination system and predict your satellite performance in MATLAB quickly and at low cost.

Cutting Edge Planetary Lander Algorithms

The world's space agencies latest missions are focused on landing and sample return missions on bodies throughout the solar system. Release 2014.1 has new algorithms for optimal trajectories to land and takeoff from the surfaces of both moons and planets.

The lander functions provide an excellent starting point for control systems that will need to accommodate the irregular surface of the target moons. Demonstrations of 2D and 3D landing and takeoff control are included for the Moon, Europa, Enceladus and Mars.

Our PID3Axis function provides the core functionality you need for attitude control of your lander. It allows maneuvering about all three axes and can be used with thrusters, reaction wheels, and gimbaled thrusters in combination. The function incorporates rate filtering and has a number of convenient pointing modes that simplify your attitude control system design.

The results of the star field evaluation function can be seen here, which computes the star density for combinations of imager and focal length. The Milky Way is seen in these images.

Design Interplanetary Mission Trajectories

New tools in Release 2014.1 for designing interplanetary trajectories include a Lambert delta-v planner, design of a double rendezvous mission, tools for low thrust spirals and methods for impulse velocity changes.

With these function, we designed a moderate thrust manned mission to Mars, as well as robotic missions to Europa and various asteroids. Recent work using these tools planned an asteroid rendezvous & deflection mission. Thus, our new functions provide a full suite of easy-to-use mission design tools, which can utilize chemical, nuclear or electric propulsion. And you can even extend the Spacecraft Control Toolbox with the Solar Sail Module.

Multiple Planetary Environments

When designing missions to the outer planets you have to know the environment, now provided in the Spacecraft Control Toolbox. We've used this function to design a Neptunian airship with our Aircraft Control Toolbox airship module. Atmosphere models are also available for several of the planets and moons of the gas giants.

New Spacecraft Dynamics

Several new dynamics functions were added to Release 2014.1 to facilitate simulation in the Spacecraft Control Toolbox. For example, RHSRigidBody6DOF is used to simulate proximity operations around an asteroid. Functions are also available for alternative approaches, such as triangle maneuvers with three impulsive firings at each apex.