General Question Master thesis - Genesis, Hiton, Lagrange points

[hsiljak]

This is probably not one of those questions you get here often...

I planned doing my Master's thesis in Control theory: Low-energy orbits based on dynamical systems theory as done in Hiten and Genesis project. My first thought was to do some Matlab simulations as part of the project, combined with Matlab calculation of Lagrangian points and trajectories... but then I discovered Orbiter (as someone said it on this forum: it's too good to be legal!)

Now I wonder: what could I do with no experience whatsoever in using and programming in Orbiter in nine months period? What goals could/should I set for myself and how could Orbiter results be incorporated in a thesis (for instance, a part of my thesis could be programming a flight based on Lagrangian points, but I wonder whether I can catch all the details with no experience and limited knowledge?)

Note that my degree is not in astrodynamics, it is in Automatic control (EE). I have a rather fair experience in general nonlinear systems, almost none in astrodynamics and a lot of experience in programming, so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Moach]

well, if you already know C++ or at least LUA, you could very well use orbiter as a testing platform for your algorithms

Orbiter has a very extensive SDK, which is quite flexible and allows one to do pretty much anything patience allows


i suggest you check out the universal autopilots project, as well as the open-source AttitudeMFD package - but most importantly, check out the orbiter SDK documentation, you'll see that it's pretty capable and could just end up helping you out :thumbup:

 

[hsiljak]

Exactly what I hoped to get - an encouragement I will dive in the documentation, if I encounter any problems - there is always this forum

 

[Wishbone]

Hmmm, could you please re-phrase the main idea of your thesis? I cannot reliably connect both ends of your argument - a) the low-energy "highways" and b) automatic control.

EDIT: If you look around the forums, you'll see the interest in such trajectories is very high, and currently Orbinauts lack the tool to exploit low-energy trajectories reliably (other than the good ole' "hit 'n miss" in the Interplanetary MFD).

 

[hsiljak]

@Wishbone: My department's name is Automatic control & electronics, but the thesis is a multidisciplinary: combination of Dynamical systems, Optimal control and Nonlinear control.

 

[Moach]

from what i understand, i think it involves control routines for low-powered RCS stabilization around Lagrange points and other naturally-unstable orbits :hmm:

is that it? :uhh:

 

[Wishbone]

Ah, being mostly clueless, I cannot say I understand this multidisciplinary twist of yours, Hsiljak, since there has to be a simple sentence that in a nutshell describes the thesis:

"I want to use as little propellant to get to the terminal condition as possible, with input from mission control centre on Earth", or
"I want to program on-board GNC computer so it would be able to get to the end of the rainbow without messing from those pesky humans on Earth", etc. etc. Could you please re-phrase what you want in the end?

 

[Jarvitä]

As others have pointed out, making addons for orbiter is pretty easy. As long as you have some rudimentary knowledge of C++ and study the SDK docs, you're good to go. I'm an EE student as well, I got all all the knowledge I needed in a one semester C++ course. I've worked on several addons, though I've never cared to bring any up to release quality.

As for your thesis, may I suggest an autopilot/navigation tool for a solar sail? There are a few solar sail addons ([ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4791"]example[/ame]), but those things are impossible to control manually, and the navigation tools designed with Hohmann trajectories in mind don't work with them. I'm assuming your EE program covered the necesarry physics-related topics here.

 

[hsiljak]

I'll try to explain my question a bit more - I'm aware it was vague as stated.

I am the one to define the topic of my thesis. Since my B.Sc. was on chaos control, I ran into a paper concerning chaotic transfer, which is directly related to L-points, and I believe Hiten was used as an example of small dV transfer using the dynamical systems theory.

I remembered that recently and wanted to inform more on this interesting application of nonlinear dynamics - I went through the literature and hoped that I can do a good survey on the topic and possibly develop simulation and/or analysis tools or examples as my own addition to the already known facts.

Programming a GNC would be a challenge, since it would practically require more technical knowledge on the implementation of control at the spacecraft - moreover, my goal is to focus on the nonlinear dynamics aspect of problem, from solving 3BP to the planning of trajectory using optimization. That is why I would rather go with

"I want to use as little propellant to get to the terminal condition as possible, with input from mission control centre on Earth"

---------- Post added at 06:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:34 PM ----------

As others have pointed out, making addons for orbiter is pretty easy. As long as you have some rudimentary knowledge of C++ and study the SDK docs, you're good to go. I'm an EE student as well, I got all all the knowledge I needed in a one semester C++ course. I've worked on several addons, though I've never cared to bring any up to release quality.

As for your thesis, may I suggest an autopilot/navigation tool for a solar sail? There are a few solar sail addons (example), but those things are impossible to control manually, and the navigation tools designed with Hohmann trajectories in mind don't work with them. I'm assuming your EE program covered the necesarry physics-related topics here.

I will take this proposal into serious consideration, neighbor :thumbup:

 

[n0mad23]

Lissajous orbits are directly related to Libration Points AND if I've understood the literature correctly, also use extremely low energy. I've been wondering if they would work as Libration point "parking" orbits.

Plus I'm a bit selfish - I really want someone to make a Lissajous Orbit MFD, or show me how it could be done in Orbiter.