Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS
CubeSats hold promise for various applications, but their viability in demanding missions such as future low Earth orbiting position, navigation, and timing (LEO-PNT) systems hinges on higher orbital accuracy and reliable attitude information. To address these challenges, we present an array-aided c...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
2024
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP190102444 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/95372 |
| _version_ | 1848766004304281600 |
|---|---|
| author | Allahvirdizadeh, Amir El-Mowafy, Ahmed |
| author_facet | Allahvirdizadeh, Amir El-Mowafy, Ahmed |
| author_sort | Allahvirdizadeh, Amir |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | CubeSats hold promise for various applications, but their viability in demanding missions such as future low Earth orbiting position, navigation, and timing (LEO-PNT) systems hinges on higher orbital accuracy and reliable attitude information. To address these challenges, we present an array-aided combined precise orbit and attitude determination model with an optimal solution. In the estimation process, multi- and affine-constrained models are used to precisely determine the attitude, and then, highly precise observations for an antenna array are reconstructed based on fixed ambiguities and a decorrelation step. Validations confirm the significance of integer ambiguities in the model, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of this model compared with star trackers for attitude determination. The reconstructed observations outperform the original observations, leading to improved orbital components, with the three-dimensional root mean square (RMS) equal to 4.1 cm. The observation residuals are smoother, with an RMS of 6 mm, half of that obtained via a single antenna. The developed models offer great potential for CubeSats, advancing their orbit and attitude determination capabilities. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:44:15Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-95372 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:44:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-953722025-05-12T05:11:53Z Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS Allahvirdizadeh, Amir El-Mowafy, Ahmed GNSS CubeSats Attitude Determination real-time positioning in Space CubeSats hold promise for various applications, but their viability in demanding missions such as future low Earth orbiting position, navigation, and timing (LEO-PNT) systems hinges on higher orbital accuracy and reliable attitude information. To address these challenges, we present an array-aided combined precise orbit and attitude determination model with an optimal solution. In the estimation process, multi- and affine-constrained models are used to precisely determine the attitude, and then, highly precise observations for an antenna array are reconstructed based on fixed ambiguities and a decorrelation step. Validations confirm the significance of integer ambiguities in the model, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of this model compared with star trackers for attitude determination. The reconstructed observations outperform the original observations, leading to improved orbital components, with the three-dimensional root mean square (RMS) equal to 4.1 cm. The observation residuals are smoother, with an RMS of 6 mm, half of that obtained via a single antenna. The developed models offer great potential for CubeSats, advancing their orbit and attitude determination capabilities. 2024 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/95372 10.33012/navi.651 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP190102444 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP240101710 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wiley-Blackwell fulltext |
| spellingShingle | GNSS CubeSats Attitude Determination real-time positioning in Space Allahvirdizadeh, Amir El-Mowafy, Ahmed Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS |
| title | Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS |
| title_full | Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS |
| title_fullStr | Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS |
| title_full_unstemmed | Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS |
| title_short | Array-Aided Precise Orbit and Attitude Determination of CubeSats using GNSS |
| title_sort | array-aided precise orbit and attitude determination of cubesats using gnss |
| topic | GNSS CubeSats Attitude Determination real-time positioning in Space |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP190102444 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP190102444 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/95372 |