Simulink-based simulation platform design and faults impact analysis of attitude control systems

The satellite attitude control system (SACS) is a complicated system. In order to reflect the relationship among different components in SACS and analyse the impact of component faults on system performance, a complete simulation platform of the SACS based on Simulink is built in this paper. With the embedding of the specific reaction flywheel, gyroscope and earth sensor model, and the design of the controller based on the quaternion feedback, the simulation platform can not only simulate the real SACS at the component level, but it can also realise the injection of component faults for analysing the system performance. Simulations are conducted to verify the performance of the simulation platform. Simulation results show that this simulation platform has the ability to accurately reflect the control performance of the SACS, and the output accuracy of the component model is high. The research results reveal that this simulation platform can provide model support for verifying the algorithm of fault diagnosis, prediction and tolerant control of the SACS. This simulation platform is easy to use and can be expanded and improved.