Preliminary Design of Reaction Wheel System Using Analytical Methods

Ground satellite test stands with a spherical air-bearing balancing platform are commonly used to test the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) components. However, limited attention has been paid to the influence of gravitational imbalance combined with aerodynamic resistance. This paper aims to develop a 3-axis reaction wheel system mounted on the balancing platform to create a system that can test novel ADCS algorithms in the future. We have developed and implemented a simplified aerodynamic torque estimation algorithm into the design process. The Simulink plant model of the platform with the reaction wheel system was created with imbalance combined with the aerodynamic resistance torque taken into account. Experiments were conducted to validate the model and ensure that the designed reaction wheel system is sufficient for academic needs. The outcome of this work is a practical design tool for the development of 3-axis ADCS systems, specifically tailored for ground-based algorithm testing.