Princeton Satellite Systems… All Under Control (Software)

[SatNews] Princeton Satellite Systems has released Spacecraft Control Toolbox version 9 for use with MATLAB.

This toolbox is used to design, simulate, and analyze spacecraft control systems and allows users to design and test control systems in a matter of hours, not days or weeks. Various types of spacecraft can be easily modeled for use in detailed simulations. Customization is straightforward since full source code is provided for every function. Version 9 of SCT introduces many new features, such as incorporating Low-Energy Transfer (LET) maneuvers developed by Princeton Satellite Systems for NASA, which awarded them a letter of commendation for its technical merit and strength. LET Maneuvers are an essential capability for many future missions being planned at NASA, ESA and in the commercial sector. The LET functions included provide a comprehensive and valuable set of tools for any organization embarking on such a mission.

Version 9 also provides an entirely new help system that uses MATLAB’s built-in help system. Every function is now searchable allowing users to pinpoint the exact function needed by searching for keywords. All of the demos are now also published to web pages and included in the help system as well. These 200+ demos each have their own individual help page that goes through the code step-by-step and evaluates functions line-by-line to show exactly how each function is being called. Example demos can be downloaded from Princeton Satellite System’s SCT Pro website. The toolbox still includes all of the content from version 8 such as attitude dynamics and control, estimation, orbit dynamics and control, thermal, power, link and propulsion functions. It also retains the imaging tools for optical GN&C, formation flying software for multi-vehicle modeling, as well as the CubeSat module for design and development of micro-satellites. Version 9 continues to provide the various tools and utilities needed for mission planning, including interplanetary trajectories, spacecraft design and layout, trade studies, as well as attitude and orbit visualization.

This toolbox can be used for many aspects of spacecraft design and analysis including control system design, nonlinear simulation, orbit analysis and mission planning. Users can build a satellite using the graphical CAD tools; design and analyze the control systems; and even perform disturbance analyses to test the control system in a six degree-of-freedom simulation — all in the MATLAB environment.