RS100 Reaction Sphere (Tensor Tech CO.,LTD.)

Advanced satellites use control moment gyro (CMG) as their attitude actuator for having a better slew rate under the same power constraint. However, CMGs appear to be more expensive because of a more complicated control methodology and mechanical structure. Nevertheless, compared with reaction wheels with the same angular momentum storage capability, they have a larger output torque but are occupied with more volume and weight.

Tensor Tech’s RS100 realizes a variable-speed, single-gimbal CMG driven by 2 degrees of freedom spherical motor technology. It successfully shrinks the volume and weight of a CMG by simplifying its mechanical structure. Although CMGs have comparingly complicated system dynamics, customers won’t have to worry about it. RS100 embeds a speed control mode and a torque control mode. Using the speed mode, customers can develop their ADCS algorithms with precise control to the inner rotor speed and the tilting angle of the CMG; Using the torque mode, customers can treat it as a torque output unit which RS100 propagates the control and steering laws internally and assuming the slew rate of the satellite is <1 deg/s.