Utilization of Raw Magnetometer Measurements for the Attitude Control of a CubeSat

This paper investigates the applicability of a control tandem comprising the Compass magnetic controller and a rotor for attitude stabilization of a CubeSat with gamma ray detector. The proposed approach utilizes raw magnetometer measurements, eliminating the need for complex sensor data processing. The specific challenges arising from this method – namely, magnetometer bias, measurement noise, and the residual dipole moment – are thoroughly analyzed. It is shown that sensor noise, despite its low magnitude, has a profound impact on the control performance due to its effect on the numerical derivative approximation of the geomagnetic field. The proposed strategy is demonstrated to provide a stabilization accuracy of several degrees while relying on computationally simple procedures, making it a viable and efficient solution for missions with modest pointing requirements.