Morphology and Behavior Co-Optimization of Modular Satellites for Attitude Control

TL;DR

This paper presents a gradient-based co-optimization method for modular satellites, improving attitude control performance by simultaneously optimizing morphology and control strategies, outperforming traditional evolution-based methods.

Contribution

Introduces a novel gradient-based co-optimization approach for modular satellite design and control, addressing the complex bi-level optimization challenge.

Findings

Better mission performance compared to evolution-based designs

More efficient and practical assembly strategies

Enhanced flexibility and resilience in satellite architecture

Abstract

The emergence of modular satellites marks a significant transformation in spacecraft engineering, introducing a new paradigm of flexibility, resilience, and scalability in space exploration endeavors. In addressing complex challenges such as attitude control, both the satellite's morphological architecture and the controller are crucial for optimizing performance. Despite substantial research on optimal control, there remains a significant gap in developing optimized and practical assembly strategies for modular satellites tailored to specific mission constraints. This research gap primarily arises from the inherently complex nature of co-optimizing design and control, a process known for its notorious bi-level optimization loop. Conventionally tackled through artificial evolution, this issue involves optimizing the morphology based on the fitness of individual controllers, which is sample-inefficient and computationally expensive. In this paper, we introduce a novel gradient-based approach to simultaneously optimize both morphology and control for modular satellites, enhancing their performance and efficiency in attitude control missions. Our Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that this co-optimization approach results in modular satellites with better mission performance compared to those designed by evolution-based approaches. Furthermore, this study discusses potential avenues for future research.