Patents by Inventor Timothy Andrew Sands

Timothy Andrew Sands has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9567112
    Abstract: A method is described for avoiding gyroscopic singularities during attitude correction to a system, such as a spacecraft having a CMG array. The method receives a corrective torque vector ? and gimbal angle values ? for each of at least three gimbals within the CMG array. The method generates a Jacobian matrix A as a function of gimbal angle values ?. The method calculates a determinant D of Jacobian matrix A. If the determinant is not equal to zero, it is not singular, and the method calculates a gimbal rate {dot over (?)} using a pseudo-inverse steering law equation. If the determinant is equal to zero, it is singular, and the method calculates a gimbal rate {dot over (?)} using a singularity avoidance steering law equation. The gimbal rate {dot over (?)} is output and can be applied to a CMG array resulting in applied torque to a spacecraft and attitude correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brij N. Agrawal, Jae Jun Kim, Timothy Andrew Sands