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Additive Divided Difference Filtering for Real- Time Spacecraft Attitude Estimation Using Modified Rodrigues Parameters

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Abstract

In this paper, a real-time attitude estimation algorithm is derived by using an additive divided difference filter as an efficient alternative to the extended Kaiman filter. To make the attitude filtering algorithm suitable for real-time applications and to minimize the computational load, a square-root sigma point attitude filter is designed by integrating the divided difference filter with the additive noise concept using the modified Rodrigues attitude parameters. The new attitude filter provides numerically stable and accurate estimates of the state and covariance, but the computational workload of the new estimator is almost identical to the computational complexity of the extended Kaiman attitude filter. For performance evaluation the new sigma point attitude filter is compared with the unscented attitude filter and the extended Kaiman filter. The sensor measurements include a three-axis magnetometer and rate-gyros. Simulation results indicate that the proposed additive divided difference attitude filter shows faster convergence with accurate and reliable estimation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical & Astronautical Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Autonomous Vehicle Research, Monterey, 93943-5100

    Deok Jin Lee (Adjunct Research Professor/NRC Research Associate)

  2. Center for Mechanics & Control, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3131

    Kyle T. Alfriend (TEES Distinguished Research Chair Professor, Fellow, AAS)

Authors
  1. Deok Jin Lee
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  2. Kyle T. Alfriend
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Correspondence to Deok Jin Lee.

Additional information

Presented at the F. Landis Markley Astronautics Symposium, Cambridge, Maryland, June 29–July 2,2008.

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Lee, D.J., Alfriend, K.T. Additive Divided Difference Filtering for Real- Time Spacecraft Attitude Estimation Using Modified Rodrigues Parameters. J of Astronaut Sci 57, 93–111 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03321496

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03321496

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