Reliable attitude control integrating reaction wheels and embedded asymmetric magnetorquers for detumbling CubeSats

Abstract

The advent of CubeSats, compact satellites with a standardized form factor, has disrupted traditional space research paradigms, fostering innovation and collaboration across academic institutions and industries. Following deployment, CubeSats typically employ magnetorquer rods to initiate the detumbling sequence, gradually reducing the angular velocity before transferring control to reaction wheels for complete spin neutralization. However, this conventional approach entails a substantial spacecraft space requirement, necessitating an alternative and disruptive methodology. Furthermore, considering that approximately 50% of Attitude Determination and Control Subsystems (ADCS) failures are attributed to faults related to the moving parts in reaction wheels, strategies are taken into consideration to address a worst-case scenario of reaction wheels failure. This paper introduces a disruptive approach that uses diverse geometries and a non-unity track width ratio in PCB-integrated magnetorquers with reaction wheels for comprehensive control. We demonstrate the effectiveness of various coil configurations through a series of extensive simulations and establish a systematic framework to select optimal hybrid designs tailored to specific mission requirements.