Abstract
An actuator problem is dealt with in this paper in controlling vibrations of flexible solar battery arrays and orienting the array toward the sun correctly. A Lero momentum type of a reaction wheel which is in common use is selected as an actuator in space here. Then the flexible array can be controlled by a reaction force working in the opposite direction of the rotation of the reaction wheel. Therefore, there is close coupling between the flexible array and the reaction wheel. First, the dynamics of the coupling system is derived here including the shaft rigidity between them under the assumption that the flexible array vibrates only in the bending way. Then the feedback control law is given to control the orientation and the vibration of the flexible array, employing the differential solar battery sensors as vibration and orientation measurement. The effect of the inertia moment of the reaction wheel is also considered experimentally with respect to the settling time of the flexible array.
