Transcript Conjunction Analysis Fundamentals

Customizing computations with STK
Plug-ins using compiled code
Dr. Vince Coppola – Analytical Graphics, Inc.
October 2005
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Outline
• What is an STK plug-in?
• Motivation: TDRS SRP Model
• COM based plug-ins
• Access constraint example
• Questions and answers
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What is an STK plug-in?
• Custom software that STK uses during
computations
• Purpose
– Customize models used in STK computations to specific
needs
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What is an STK plug-in? (cont.)
• Differs from STK/Connect
– Not used to control task flow
• Differs from STK/X and 4DX
– Not used for custom GUIs
– Not used for creating a custom application
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Example: TDRS SRP model
• TDRS
– GEO Communication satellite
– Solar panels track Sun
– Solar sail, AW C-band antenna, and SGL antenna are nominally
Earth-pointing
• Need
– Generate ephemeris using a high-fidelity force model
• Force Model Contributors
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Gravity field (solid tides?) (ocean tides?)
Third body gravity (Sun, Moon, others?)
General relativity effect
Solar radiation pressure (SRP)
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
• Solar radiation pressure force
– Depends on particle absorption and reflection
– Depends on surface orientation
– Surface orientation varies along the trajectory
• Generic model: spherical shape
– Accel = Cr * (Area/mass) * Illumination * Irradiance / c
– Directed along apparent sun line
– Supported by STK
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
• Better model for TDRS
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Based on Pechenick, K. and Hujsak, R. (1987)
Account for surface orientation of main parts
Account for diffuse and specular reflection
Accel = Cr *(1.0/mass)* Illumination * Irradiance / c *
{A1 k + A2 k x ( k x N ) + A3 k x ( k x M ) }
– k – along sun line, N normal to solar panels, M radial
– A1, A2, A3 depends on area, reflection values
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
• Use a HPOP Plug-in
– Code the model in a computer language of choice
• C++, C#, VB.NET, Perl, VBScript, Jscript, etc.
– Adhere to the published plug-in interface
• Sample code provided
– Choose to use the plug-in from the HPOP GUI
• Just like the other force model settings
– Set any plug-in specific parameters from the GUI
• Similar to the other force model settings
– Configure the remaining force model parameters
– HPOP generates the ephemeris using the force model
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
• What you don’t code (nor test, doc, maintain)
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All the other force model contributions
The numerical integration algorithm
The VOP formulation
The time regularization algorithm
The covariance propagation algorithm
• Save time and avoid risk
– Code only the custom part
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Purpose
Plug-ins provide the means for custom
modeling while leveraging STK’s tested
generic computational framework
Only code the custom part of the model
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HPOP plug-in uses
• Attitude dependent SRP
• Attitude dependent Drag
• Density model
• Satellite thermal emission
• Micrometeorite particle collisions
• Re-entry drag and lift
• Outgasssing (thrust without mass loss)
– Models non-physical accelerations
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Outgassing
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Performance
90 days propagation
329
350
300
seconds
250
200
143
168
150
100
50
0
C++
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C#
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Jscript
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Plug-in evolution
• STK 4.3 introduced plug-in scripts (2002)
– Perl, VBScript, Matlab scripts
– AGI-developed interface
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Installation
Calling conventions
Debugging ideas
Troubleshooting
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Available plug-in points
• 15 plug-in points
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Astrogator
Vector Tool
Access constraint
Attitude simulator
Communications modeling
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Plug-in scripts
• Use
– Only needed when generic models are insufficient
– Several customers rely on this capability
• Limitations
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3 languages – Perl, VBScript, Matlab
Not as fast as compiled code
Non-standard function calling conventions
Requested input data must be known a priori
Unable to get/set plug-in parameter data
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COM-based plug-ins
• Computer programmer-friendly plug-ins
– Based on Microsoft’s COM technology
• STK 6.1 introduced COM Plug-ins (2004)
– HPOP
• STK 6.2 (2005)
– Astrogator engine model, Astrogator attitude controller
• STK 7.0 (2005)
– Alpha prototype for Access constraints, dynamic phase
array antenna
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COM
• Component Object Model
– Standard Microsoft protocol
– Many languages (Windows operating system)
• C++, C#, VB.NET, Perl, VBScript, Jscript
– Sun Java
• No samples yet  customer interest?
– Microsoft J++ / J#
• No samples yet
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Plug-in concepts
• Focused on a computational task
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HPOP: evaluating the force model
Attitude controller: steering an engine
Engine model: modeling thrust and flow rate
Access constraint: providing a visibility measure
• Plug-in point
– Own triggering events
– Provides interface for setting/getting input/output data
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Plug-In Points
• Must modify STK to make a plug-in point
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Identify a computation
Identify a need for user customization
Identify the triggering events
Identify inputs and outputs
• Made available as need arises
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Matlab plug-ins
• Previous capability supported Matlab
– Compatible with Matlab version 6.x and 7.x
• Matlab is COM-aware
– Can use COM objects
– Can be used as a COM object
• Recommendation
– Use a scripting language plug-in to STK
– Call Matlab from scripting language
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HPOP plug-in
• Custom force model
• Supported by STK and ODTK
• Plug-in scripts
– Astrogator propagator plug-in
– Custom force model
– Migration to COM plug-ins  soon!
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HPOP plug-in events
• Init()
• PrePropagate()
• PreNextStep()
• Evaluate()
• PostEvaluate()
• PostPropagate()
• Free()
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Hpop plug-in events (cont.)
PrePropagate()
while needing to take another step
{
PreNextStep()
while haven’t taken a good step
{
Attempt the step
Assess whether step is good
}
}
PostPropagate()
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Hpop plug-in events (cont.)
Attempt the step:
Evaluate force model :
Perform preliminary computations
Evaluate()
Compute all force model contributions
PostEvaluate()
Add all force model contributions
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Calling convention
• Plug-in scripts passed input / output data
• COM based plug-ins pass interfaces
– Each event has an interface appropriate for that event
– The interface has properties and methods for getting
inputs and outputs
bool
Evaluate( IAgAsHpopPluginResultEval interface)
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Calling Convention (cont.)
bool
Evaluate( IAgAsHpopPluginResultEval interface)
illum = interface.SolarIntensity
if(illum > 0)
{
interface.SunPosition(eSRP, eInertial,
sunX, sunY, sunZ)
… <compute SRP acceleration> …
interface.AddAccleration(eInertial, aX, aY, aZ)
}
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Calling Convention (cont.)
Init( IAgUtPluginSite siteInterface)
PrePropagate( IAgAsHpopPluginResult interface)
PreNextStep( IAgAsHpopPluginResult interface)
Evaluate( IAgAsHpopPluginResultEval interface)
PostEvaluate( IAgAsHpopPluginResultPostEval
interface)
PostPropagate( IAgAsHpopPluginResult interface)
Free()
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Exception handling
• Event calls return a Boolean value
– True: everything is okay
– False: an unrecoverable error occurred
• Turns this event off – no longer called
• STK code captures exceptions raised by a plug-in
– Exception text sent to message viewer
• Certain interface function may fail
– Sets a defined error code
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Inputs and outputs
• Specific to each interface
• Ephemeris
• Variables pertaining to the plug-in point
– HPOP: Cd, Drag Area, Cr, SRP Area, Mass, etc.
– Engine Model: thrust, mass flow rate, Isp
– Attitude Controller: Euler angles, quaternion
• Methods and properties
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Documentation
• Compiled help file (stkPlugins.chm)
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Plug-in points
Triggering events
Interface methods and properties
7 language syntaxes shown
• VB.NET, VB6, C#
• Managed C++, Unmanaged C++
• VBScript, Perl
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Evaluate method
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Evaluate method (cont.)
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Eval interface
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SunPosition method
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SunPosition_Array method
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IAgUtPluginSite interface
• bool Init( IAgUtPluginSite site)
• Message Viewer
– Write messages to message viewer
• Vector Tool
– Vectors, axes, points, angles, etc
– Ephemeris and attitude of any object expressed in any
components
• Astrogator Calc Objects
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Building plug-in components
• Scripting languages
– Windows script host
– Text editor
• Compiled languages
– Microsoft Visual Studio (C++, C#, VB.NET)
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Installation
• Standard COM registration
• Registration in the Windows registry
– GUID
– Regsvr32
• C++ components
• Perl, VBScript, Jscript components
– Regasm
• .NET components (C#, VB.NET)
• Must register on every machine you want to run on
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Debugging
• Available for compiled plug-ins
– Able to debug plug-in code when running STK
– Must exit STK before re-building the plug-in
• Not available for scripting languages
– Create a log file instead
– Use message viewer (but not too much)
– Advantage: Can edit text file with STK running
• Helps to reduce cycle time
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TDRS SRP model
• Init()
– Return true to turn plug-in On
• PrePropagate()
– Check whether SRP is On
– Pre-compute some variables
• PreNextStep, PostPropagate(), Free()
– If debug mode, output msgs else do nothing
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
• Evaluate()
– Compute SRP based on formula
– Use interface->AddAcceleration()
• PostEvaluate()
– If debug mode, output diagnostic messages to viewer
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
• Plug-in parameter data
– Diffuse reflectivity, specular reflectivity
– ‘Debug’ settings (messages sent to MessageViewer)
• IAgUtPluginConfig
– Implement this interface to set / get parameter data
– GetPluginConfig()
• Register parameter data with STK
– VerifyPluginConfig()
• Determine whether user settings are acceptable
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
AddBoolDispatchProperty
(
scope,
"DebugMode",
"Turn debug messages on or off",
"DebugMode",
eFlagNone )
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
AddDoubleDispatchProperty (
scope,
"Reflectivity_Specular",
"Specular reflectivity coefficient",
"SpecularReflectivity",
eFlagNone )
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
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TDRS SRP model (cont.)
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Choosing a plug-in language
Language
Speed
Code
complexity
Scripting
Slower
Simple
Automatic
No
C#,
VB.NET
Fast
Medium
Automatic
Yes
Memory
Debug
Manage
C++
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Fastest
Difficult
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yourself
Yes
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Using COM in plug-in scripts
• Post STK 7.0
– Migration to use COM based plug-ins
• Able to use COM plug-ins from VBScript
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Restricted to inputs / outputs available
Must use AGI-defined interface
Get handle to the COM component on initialization
Route inputs to the COM component
Have COM component compute values
Return using plug-in script mechanism
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Access constraints
• Constraints are often measures
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Elevation angle
Range
Ground elevation angle
Sunlight
• Used for visibility and for Figures Of Merit (FOM)
– Coverage: visibility to a grid of points
– FOM: quality of coverage during visibility times
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Figure of merit
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Example: image quality
• Sensor taking a picture of ground
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Oblique geometry of sensor with respect to ground
Sensor properties (focal length, pixel resolution)
Ground properties (sun elevation)
Time effects
• Create an access constraint plug-in
– Use as an image quality metric
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Ground sampled distance
• Built in GSD constraint
GSD 
pp  range
f sin 
• pp is the pixel pitch
• range is the slant range
• θ is the ground elevation angle
• f is the focal length
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Ground spot size and optical ratio
• Ground spot size due to the optics
  range
GSS 
D sin 
• D is the optical diameter
• λ is the wavelength
• The optical ratio
GSS
 f
Q

GSD pp  D
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Alternate GSD
GSD 
  range
Q  D  sin 
• Can perform trade studies on GSD as we vary Q
• Create a plug-in constraint
– Implement GSD as function of Q
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Q Variation Study
Q = 2.000
0.583
0.750
1.000
1.250
1.500
1.750
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NIIRS
• National Image Interpretability Rating Scale
– “Image quality for remote sensing systems,” Robert
Fiete, Eastman Kodak, Opt. Eng. 38(7), July 1999.
– For electro-optical systems
NIIRS  10.251  a log 10 GSD(in inches )
G
 b log 10 RER  0.656 H  0.344
SNR
• Create a plug-in access constraint
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NIIRS Results
Q = 2.000
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Questions & answers
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