Abstract
This paper discusses an Input Shaping method for electrodynamic tether systems. The Input Shaping method is applied to generate an input current profile to reduce the induced vibration of the electrodynamic tether system in the initial phase of the propulsion. The Lorenz force and the flexibility of the tether cause vibrations of the tether system on orbit. Two different shapers are designed to suppress the two main vibration modes. The complete shaper is designed by multiplying each of the shapers together. The flexibility of the tether is described by the lumped mass model. The robustness of the shapers is discussed by sensitivity plots. The results of numerical simulations show excellent performance of vibration suppressing by the employing Input Shaping for the electrodynamic tether system.
