Symmetric stereographic orientation parameters applied to constrained spacecraft attitude control

Abstract

The full kinematic properties of a minimal set of rigid body attitude coordinates called Symmetric Stereographic Orientation Parameters (SSOPs) are developed. These coordinates result from a stereographic projection of the Euler parameter constraint hypersphere onto a three-dimensional hyper-plane. As discussed in previous work [5], this family contains the well-known classical and modified Rodrigues parameters. Considering general SSOP projection points, transformations to the Euler parameters and the direction cosine matrix are discussed. The set of three SSOP coordinates have the unique feature that the associated singularity can be placed at a desired principal rotation angle by adjusting the projection point. In contrast to the Rodrigues parameters, the SSOP coordinates do not represent a unique orientation. The impact of this non-uniqueness on the constrained spacecraft attitude control problem is discussed. An attitude feedback control law in terms of SSOPs will inherently avoid reaching this singular attitude description, and thus constrain the attitude error response to be within a well-defined cone. Lyapunov’s direct method is used to illustrate how a SSOP-based control law can be derived to drive the spacecraft attitude away from the singularity and towards a desired orientation. This control law generalizes the previously developed classical and modified Rodrigues parameter-based attitude control laws for general stereographic projection points.