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Integrated Navigation, Guidance and Control System and Validation


Affiliations
1 Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
 

The navigation, guidance and control (NGC) system of Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) is the most complex system ever flown in ISRO’s launches. It includes a navigation system employing traditional inertial navigation system along with global positioning system aiding and radar altimeter, ceramic servo accelerometer package, angle of attack-based control, different control systems, including secondary injection thrust vector control, reaction control system and aero control surfaces. Closed loop simulations of integrated NGC system of RLV-TD are of utmost importance to ensure mission success by assessment of system performance in nominal and off-nominal flight conditions. Validation is achieved through progressive evaluations in different levels of integrated simulation, namely autonomous simulations, software in loop simulation, on-board processor in loop simulation, hardware in loop simulation and actuator in loop simulation using Iron Bird test facility. This article discusses the overall NGC system, challenges faced during the realization of the simulation test bed, including system design to validate the new on-board elements, commissioning of Iron Bird facility and validation through various phases of simulation. The outcome of these simulations played a crucial role in bringing about improvements and helping in the evolution of the on-board system to the final configuration, ensuring the success of the mission.

Keywords

Control, Guidance, Integrated Simulation, Navigation, Reusable Launch Vehicles, Validation.
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Abstract Views: 209

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  • Integrated Navigation, Guidance and Control System and Validation

Abstract Views: 209  |  PDF Views: 82

Authors

Arindam Barua
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
M. P. Premchand
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
R. Vishnu
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
Prabhat Kumar Dubey
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
Jayachitra
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
Ambili K. Gopinath
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
S. Anitha
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
Renjith Keezhoth
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
Anil P. Madeckal
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
D. Karthikeyan
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
Sheethal Antony
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
J. Suresh Babu
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
R. Manohara Rao
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
I. Sudar
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India
E. S. Padmakumar
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Thiruvananthapuram 695 022, India

Abstract


The navigation, guidance and control (NGC) system of Reusable Launch Vehicle – Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) is the most complex system ever flown in ISRO’s launches. It includes a navigation system employing traditional inertial navigation system along with global positioning system aiding and radar altimeter, ceramic servo accelerometer package, angle of attack-based control, different control systems, including secondary injection thrust vector control, reaction control system and aero control surfaces. Closed loop simulations of integrated NGC system of RLV-TD are of utmost importance to ensure mission success by assessment of system performance in nominal and off-nominal flight conditions. Validation is achieved through progressive evaluations in different levels of integrated simulation, namely autonomous simulations, software in loop simulation, on-board processor in loop simulation, hardware in loop simulation and actuator in loop simulation using Iron Bird test facility. This article discusses the overall NGC system, challenges faced during the realization of the simulation test bed, including system design to validate the new on-board elements, commissioning of Iron Bird facility and validation through various phases of simulation. The outcome of these simulations played a crucial role in bringing about improvements and helping in the evolution of the on-board system to the final configuration, ensuring the success of the mission.

Keywords


Control, Guidance, Integrated Simulation, Navigation, Reusable Launch Vehicles, Validation.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv114%2Fi01%2F109-122