Inertia parameters optimisation method for three-axis spacecraft simulator

Three-axis spacecraft simulators are widely used to verify spacecraft control strategies. Designing a simulator whose moment of inertia are similar to the spacecraft's is important for control research. Moreover, to reduce the disturbance of gravity torque, the centre of mass of the simulator attitude stage must be exactly aligned with the centre of rotation. Various sensors and actuators are on the simulator. An optimisation method for the locations of these devices on the simulator is presented. In this method, these devices are described as rectangles and circles. Their spatial relationship are expressed by a series of inequalities. The total inertia parameters of these devices are optimised.