Description
The Power Source Unsteady Error Model simulates a faulty source of power at the Power Source output. This model can be added to any generic power source (including solar panels) to affect the power output over time. It works by turning the power output on and off based on a Gaussian distribution, simulating an intermittent connection issue.
Example Use Cases
- Realistic Fault Simulation: Enables testing of spacecraft power systems under realistic failure conditions where power connections may be unstable.
- Power System Resilience Testing: Helps verify that critical systems can operate when power sources experience intermittent connectivity issues.
Module Implementation
The unsteady power model functions by toggling the power production on and off based on time intervals generated from a Gaussian (normal) distribution. This simulates a faulty connection that intermittently breaks and reconnects.
The model is configured using two main parameters:
Unsteady Mean: The mean value in seconds for the Gaussian distribution that determines how long the power source remains in each state (on or off).Unsteady Std: The standard deviation in seconds for the Gaussian distribution, which affects the variability in the timing of state changes.
Assumptions/Limitations
- The model assumes that the power interruption is binary (either fully on or fully off) and does not simulate partial connectivity issues.
- The same distribution parameters are used for both enabling and disabling the power, which may not reflect all real-world failure modes where different mechanisms might govern connection and disconnection.
- This model only affects the availability of power and does not simulate other potential power issues such as voltage fluctuations or noise.