6-Degree-of-Freedom Multi-Fidelity Closed-Loop Trajectory Tool

Recent innovations and the transition to digital engineering has led to ever-growing modeling and simulation environments. These environments provide invaluable benefits, but they typically require immense amounts of data. One crucial task that must wait far into the design of a vehicle is control system design. Overall mission design and high-level vehicle closure can be done with a 3-degree-of-freedom (3DoF) simulation, but validating control authority to meet the attitude requirements necessitates a 6DoF simulation. To allow for data-driven control architecture trade studies for a more confident design, SpaceWorks proposes a novel tool that can operate at varying levels of fidelity across the vehicle design process. For control architecture design, this tool can read the aerodynamic data of the neutral outer mold line (OML) and calculate the required forces and moments for mission closure and closed-loop control. Engineers can use these requirements to size their control system and validate that design with higher-fidelity aerodynamic data that includes the moment contributions from the deflected control surfaces. With this tool, control architecture trades and 6DoF simulations of different vehicle configurations become significantly cheaper, allowing for the design team to more easily find the optimal solution. In this Phase I effort, SpaceWorks will develop a proof-of-concept executable showing the control architecture sizing and validation use cases. SpaceWorks will leverage work from previous efforts to streamline the development effort, allowing for an emphasis on the implementation of closed-loop control algorithms with applications for a multitude of aerospace vehicles.

Interoperability is listed as the primary emphasis from Space Operations and Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorates. The proposed tool will improve interoperability by bringing control system design earlier in the vehicle design process. This is accomplished by significantly reducing the aerodynamic database requirements. Developing a large aerodynamic database is costly and time consuming which forces control system design into later phases of the design process when the outer mold line of the vehicle is fixed. Bringing it earlier in the design process enables greater modeling breadth and additional trade space exploration resulting in a fully optimized solution. From the beginning, the proposed tool will be designed to interface with other tools and function with multiple fidelity levels so that it is not phase-dependent. If selected SpaceWorks will leverage past experience developing software tools from concept through to commercial availability and support. SpaceWorks already has experience in commercializing software products, including QuickShot and Manta. In just the past year, QuickShot sales have more than doubled, with the number of unique customers growing from 10 to more than 25. SpaceWorks utilizes an in-house software team to continuously maintain and extend the capability of all its software tools by adding new features annually and providing ongoing technical support to customers. SpaceWorks will leverage its trusted brand and existing Manta/QuickShot customer relationships to ensure customers have direct input during the development process. Initial marketing efforts will focus on government and US companies only, with further exploration of other revenue streams as secondary targets. SpaceWorks estimates the commercial market for this new software tool to be approximately 100-150 firms and anticipates immediate adoption from about 8 of those. Based on previous experience, it will take about 4 years for maximum market penetration. SpaceWorks has a dedicated software sales manager, who has executed a proactive marketing campaign for the last 3 years. Similar to our existing COTS software produces, SpaceWorks plans to employ a multi-pronged go-to-market strategy, including online ads, social media outlets (e.g., LinkedIn), industry trade shows, conversations with interested parting and prior customers, and demo software versions for trial use. With this go-to-market strategy, SpaceWorks can demonstrate the advanced capabilities of this tool. The economic benefits that directly affect customers include not needing to invest in expensive computational hours, the ability to avoid costly late-term design iterations by running trade studies early in the design process, and less time spent learning and using the tool vs competition because of a superior UI.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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