Control of a Space Rigidizable-Inflatable Boom Using Embedded Piezoelectric Composite Actuators

An experimental investigation of vibration testing and active control of a space rigidizable inflatable composite boom containing embedded piezoelectric composite actuators was conducted. Inflatable deployable space structures offer reduced mass, higher packaging efficiency, lower life cycle cost, simpler design with fewer parts, and higher deployment reliability for many large deployable spacecraft structures applications. Enhancing deployed precision and repeatability for these structures is an ongoing research area; in particular, for rigidizable inflatable material systems. In this study we demonstrate in situ vibration testing and active damping using piezoelectric Macro-Fiber Composite actuators embedded within a typical space-rigidizable deployable composite boom. The embedded Macro-Fiber Composite are shown to be capable of surviving integration, packaging, deployment and thermal rigidization in vacuum, and subsequently operating at their full actuation capability. Positive position feedback controllers using accelerometer, laser vibrometer, and strain gage feedback signals are designed and experimentally evaluated. Velocity-proportional and acceleration proportional controllers shown to be capable of attenuating fundamental bending response significantly using only modest control authority (-23dB with 10% of available voltage).