Performance of different Formation control methods between Multiple Spacecraft with local part communications

With the development of network and distributed computing, many applications of multi vehicle system have become possible, and motion transformation can be realized. In multi vehicle coordination, the interaction between information exchange topology and control plays an important role. Different formation control methods have different performance. Thus, in order to figure out which method is suitable for multiple spacecraft, the author simulated the signal unstable environment in space to test the robustness and consensus speed of the following three methods. The author use Bearing-only Formation Control, A leader–follower Formation Control and Affine Formation Control to test their performance with local part communications. The author use matlab and simulink to analog communication process of multiple spacecraft. Finally, the author find Affine Formation Control’s performance is the best. It has the best robustness and the fast consensus speed but more energy and signal paths to communicate.

Exploring solar-terrestrial interactions via multiple imaging observers

How does solar wind energy flow through the Earth’s magnetosphere, how is it converted and distributed? is the question we want to address. We need to understand how geomagnetic storms and substorms start and grow, not just as a matter of scientific curiosity, but to address a clear and pressing practical problem: space weather, which can influence the performance and reliability of our technological systems, in space and on the ground, and can endanger human life and health. Much knowledge has already been acquired over the past decades, particularly by making use of multiple spacecraft measuring conditions in situ, but the infant stage of space weather forecasting demonstrates that we still have a vast amount of learning to do. A novel global approach is now being taken by a number of space imaging missions which are under development and the first tantalising results of their exploration will be available in the next decade. In this White Paper, submitted to ESA in response to the Voyage 2050 Call, we propose the next step in the quest for a complete understanding of how the Sun controls the Earth’s plasma environment: a tomographic imaging approach comprising two spacecraft in highly inclined polar orbits, enabling global imaging of magnetopause and cusps in soft X-rays, of auroral regions in FUV, of plasmasphere and ring current in EUV and ENA (Energetic Neutral Atoms), alongside in situ measurements. Such a mission, encompassing the variety of physical processes determining the conditions of geospace, will be crucial on the way to achieving scientific closure on the question of solar-terrestrial interactions.