This paper presents for the first time an improved algorithm for vibration amplitude-phase information extraction of capacitive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscopes. Amplitude and phase information resulting from the improved algorithm is insensitive to the phase variation of an interface capacitance-voltage (CV) circuit, thus both long time drift of the gyroscope and bias instability have been improved. Experimental results show that both the phase and amplitude information extracted using this improved algorithm is insensitive to phase variation of CV circuit which is in accordance with theory. Bias instability using this improved configuration is 0.64°/h, which is improved two times more than the configuration using traditional double-side-band (DSB) demodulation configuration, and 4.3 times more than the configuration using single-side-band (SSB) demodulation, respectively. Allan deviation analysis shows that the slow varying drift term using D&S configuration is effectively reduced due to its robustness to CV phase variation compared to test results using DSB or SSB configuration.

The centroid and moment of inertia directly affect the dynamic characteristics of aircraft, and accurate mass characteristic measurements are crucial to adequately control aircraft attitude. This paper proposes a new measurement method for determining aircraft mass characteristics that can improve measurement precision when used in regard to pico-satellites. The measurement system is designed according to the principles of three-point measure and constant torque. The feasibility of the test method of this study for determining the mass characteristics is proved by using a dynamic simulation and an experimental analysis method. Through a number of standard workpiece tests, the deviation of the measurement system and effective compensation methods of the mass characteristics are obtained. The measurement system and compensation methods are applied to measure the mass characteristics of a pico-satellite, which can be detected by only one time clamping. The measurement system proposed herein can effectively improve measurement precision, as it was found that the accuracy of the centroid and the moment of inertia of the pico-satellite are less than 1 mm and 1.5 × 10⁻² kgm², respectively. The proposed measurement system also has many advantages, such as a simple operation, high efficiency, small volume, and low cost.

Space robots exhibit a strong dynamic coupling between the manipulator and the base spacecraft, with this phenomenon being particularly pronounced in mini space robots. The uncertainty surrounding the inertial parameters of space robots often renders dynamics-based controllers ineffective, and identifying these parameters in an on-orbit environment poses significant challenges. In this paper, we propose an adaptive controller for dynamic approximation that is specifically designed for mini space robots. This controller employs a linear separation of inertial parameters and utilizes recursive least-squares and Lyapunov methods to update the inertial parameter vectors. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of this adaptive controller in enabling mini space robots to accurately track predefined trajectories. Additionally, we compare the effects of the two parameter update methods on the controller stability under varying prior inertial parameter errors. The proposed inertial parameter separation adaptive controller significantly approximates the dynamics of mini space robots and facilitates precise on-orbit control, thereby offering considerable potential for advancing space exploration, satellite missions, and robotic operations.

This paper presents an improved mesh storage tank structure obtained using 3D metal printing. The storage tank structure is optimized using a multi-objective uniform design method. Each parameter influencing the storage tank is considered as the optimization factor, and the compression stress ( $\sigma$ ), volume utilization ratio ( $v$ ), and weight ( $m$ , are considered as the optimization objectives. Regression equations were established between the optimization factors and targets, the orders of the six factors affecting three target values are analyzed, and the relative deviations between the regression equation and calculation results for $\sigma$ , $v$ , and $m$ were 9.72%, 4.15%, and 2.94%, respectively. The optimization results showed that the regression equations can predict the structure performance of the improved storage tank, and the values of the influence factors obtained through the optimization are effective. In addition, the compression stress was improved by 24.98%, the volume utilization ratio was increased by 26.86%, and the weight was reduced by 26.83%. The optimized storage tank was developed through 3D metal printing, and the compressive stress was improved by 58.71%, the volume utilization ratio was increased by 24.52%, and the weight was reduced by 11.67%.

In this paper, a new method of replacing the conventional honeycomb aluminum panel with 3D metal printing on the microsatellite is presented. The multiobjective optimization method is used to optimize the temperature difference, compression strength, shear strength, and weight of the new type of solar panel structure. The relationships between the structural parameters and optimization targets are established, and the influence of five factors on thermal and structural properties is analyzed. Finally, a group of better structural parameters of the panel is obtained. The relative deviations between simulation analysis and model are 27.45%, 6.12%, 1.365%, and 3.27%, respectively. The optimization results show that the regression model can be used to predict thermal and structural properties of the panel, and the establishment of the model is effective. The analysis results show that the performances can be improved by 91.62%, 46.94%, 17.91%, and 10.28%, respectively. The optimized results are used for 3D metal printing, and the new type of solar panel is obtained. It is proved that the method can effectively improve the thermal and structural properties of the panel and can effectively shorten the development and manufacture cycle of the panel and also reduce the cost. It has high engineering application value.

In this study, a method for establishing a prediction model for the liquid-sloshing characteristics of microsatellite propulsion systems is proposed. The ideal states of the liquid-sloshing characteristics are considered for the following three models: (1) storage tank, (2) coupled storage tank and microsatellite, and (3) coupled storage tank and microsatellite with a deployment mechanism. The smoothed-particle hydrodynamics method is implemented in ABAQUS to study the effect of sloshing on a storage tank and microsatellite disturbance for the above three cases. Relationship models between the sloshing time, sloshing angular velocity, amount of fluid filled, and satellite attitude angular velocity are established. The analysis results show that the disturbance angular velocity of the empty storage tank and sloshing angular velocity have a linear relationship. Furthermore, the disturbance angular velocity of the liquid-filled storage tank exhibits a surface relationship with the sloshing angular velocity and amount of fluid filled in a three-dimensional coordinate system. Additionally, the disturbance angular velocity in the liquid-filled state of the storage tank is higher than that of the empty storage tank, and the degree of disturbance decreases with the increase in the mass of the coupling. The disturbance of the storage tank and microsatellite with the deployment mechanism is 10⁻²°/s when the angular velocities of the satellite areωx′=3,ωy′=3, andωz′=2. The maximum and minimum deviations between the calculation and simulation results of the three models are 7.6% and 1.1%, respectively. The model is used to predict the disturbance angular velocity of the microsatellite. When the calculation results of the model are compared with the orbit satellite data, the maximum and minimum disturbance angular velocity deviations occur in theyandzdirections with a deviation of 43.36% and 14.86%, respectively. This demonstrates the accuracy of the analysis and model. The results of this study can provide theoretical guidance for the engineering design and attitude and orbital control of a microsatellite propulsion system.