System for tracking solar energy
An antenna system is configured for use in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) around Earth. The system has a plurality of antenna satellites coupled together to form a phased array. Each of the plurality of antenna satellites have an antenna body with an antenna and a solar cell. A processing device determines an orientation of the plurality of antenna satellites and position the phased array in the orientation based on an analysis of the solar cell of the antenna bodies facing the sun, the antenna of the antenna bodies facing the Earth, and maintaining a torque equilibrium of the phased array.
1 . An antenna system comprising:
a plurality of antenna assemblies coupled together to form a flat phased array, wherein a first surface of the flat phased array comprises a plurality of solar cells and a second surface of the flat phased array comprises a plurality of antennas, the second surface different than the first surface; and
processing circuitry configured to:
determine, based on a position of the first surface of the flat phased array relative to a Sun or a position of the second surface of the flat phased array relative to Earth, a desired orientation of the flat phased array, wherein the desired orientation comprises a desired angle to maintain the flat phased array such that a gyroscopic torque exerted on the flat phased array when oriented in the desired angle counterbalances with a gravity gradient torque acting on the flat phased array when oriented in the desired angle,
determine a spin rate to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle; and
control one or more actuators, based on the determined spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle.
2 . The antenna system of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more actuators comprise at least a gyroscopic component configured to generate rotational motion, and
wherein to control the one or more actuators, based on the determined spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle, the processing circuitry is configured to control the rotational motion of the gyroscopic component.
3 . The antenna system of claim 2 , wherein the gyroscopic component comprises a momentum wheel.
4 . The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein to control the one or more actuators, based on the determined spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle, the processing circuitry is configured to control the one or more actuators to control a rotation of the flat phased array about a normal vector of the flat phased array.
5 . The antenna system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more actuators comprise one or more torque rods.
6 . The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is located at a ground station.
7 . The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the desired orientation comprises a position of the flat phased array at an angle offset from an orthogonal to a surface of the Earth.
8 . A method comprising:
determining, by processing circuitry of an antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna assemblies coupled to form a flat phased array, a desired orientation of the flat phased array, wherein the desired orientation comprises a desired angle to maintain the flat phased array such that a gyroscopic torque exerted on the flat phased array when oriented in the desired angle counterbalances with a gravity gradient torque acting on the flat phased array when oriented in the desired angle,
wherein a first surface of the flat phased array comprises a plurality of solar cells and a second surface of the flat phased array comprises a plurality of antennas, the second surface different than the first surface, and
wherein determining the desired orientation is based on a position of the first surface of a phased array relative to a Sun or a position of the second surface of the phased array relative to Earth;
determine a spin rate to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle; and
controlling, by the processing circuitry of the antenna system, one or more actuators, based on the determined spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle.
9 . The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the one or more actuators comprise at least a gyroscopic component configured to generate rotational motion with respect to the plurality of antenna assemblies to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle, and
wherein controlling the one or more actuators, based on the determined spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle comprises controlling the rotational motion of the gyroscopic component.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the gyroscopic component comprises a momentum wheel.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein controlling the one or more actuators, based on the determined spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle comprises controlling the one or more actuators to control a rotation of the flat phased array about a normal vector of the flat phased array.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more actuators comprise one or more torque rods.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is located at a ground station.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the desired orientation comprises a position of the plurality of antenna assemblies at an angle offset from an orthogonal to a surface of the Earth.
15 . A computing device, comprising:
memory; and
one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to:
determine a desired orientation of a plurality of antenna assemblies coupled to form a flat phased array, wherein the desired orientation comprises a desired angle to maintain the flat phased array such that a gyroscopic torque exerted on the flat phased array when oriented in the desired angle counterbalances with a gravity gradient torque acting on the flat phased array when oriented in the desired angle,
wherein a first surface of the flat phased array comprises a plurality of solar cells and a second surface of the flat phased array comprises a plurality of antennas, the second surface different than the first surface;
wherein the desired orientation is determined based on a position of the first surface of a phased array relative to a Sun or a position of the second surface of the phased array relative to Earth;
determine a spin rate to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle; and
control one or more actuators, based on the determined spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle.
16 . The computing device of claim 15 ,
wherein the one or more actuators comprise at least one gyroscopic component configured to generate rotational motion, and
wherein to control the one or more actuators, based on the desired spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle, the one or more processors are configured to control the rotational motion of the gyroscopic component.
17 . The computing device of claim 15 , wherein to control the one or more actuators, based on the determined spin rate, to exert the gyroscopic torque on the flat phased array to maintain the flat phased array in the desired angle, the one or more processors are configured to control the one or more actuators to control a rotation of the flat phased array about a normal vector of the flat phased array.