Actuators For Actively Controlled Space Structures

P. Studer; A. Baz; R. Sharma

doi:10.1117/12.964433

1 February 1987 Actuators For Actively Controlled Space Structures

P. Studer, A. Baz, R. Sharma

Proceedings Volume 0641, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing; (1987) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.964433
Event: 1986 Technical Symposium Southeast, 1986, Orlando, United States

Abstract

Unmanned free-flying platforms are part of the NASA space station program. Many scientific and operational meteorlogical earth-observing missions are best conducted from polar orbit. The technology required to develop a platform (large spacecraft) to carry a multiplicity of advanced instruments is presently under study. Ensuring the line-of-sight stability and accurate coallignment of instruments mounted on the platform is a fundamental requirement of the structure. Early spacecrafts were small and compact and designed to meet the stresses of the launch vehicle. For practical purposes, these structures could be considered as rigid bodies in orbit. In the space station era it is no longer feasible to design structures sufficiently rigid to make distortions and structural dynamic deflections negligible. For a platform of approximately 4 x 17 meters, carrying a variety of imaging and sounding payloads, an "intelligent structure" is required. We believe it is necessary to investigate active dynamic control of structural resonances. This paper will focus on actuators which must be lightweight, low power and capable of being integrated into the structure without degrading its integrity. The wide dynamic range from dc to 100 Hz may well require several types of actuators. At this time we are exploring novel actuator types and attempting to characterize them for computer simulation and modeling. How their unique features suit this application is described. The objective of providing broadband damping including higher order modes requires modeling the structure with a distributed array of sensors and actuators. Optimization of location and actuator's characteristics to achieve a high level of performance with minimum system weight and power demand is our goal.

Citation Download Citation

P. Studer, A. Baz, and R. Sharma "Actuators For Actively Controlled Space Structures", Proc. SPIE 0641, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing, (1 February 1987); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.964433

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