CONTROL-STRUCTURE INTERACTIONS OF SPACE STATION SOLAR DYNAMIC MODULES

Potential control/structures interaction problems of large flexible multibody structures in the presence of pointing and tracking requirements are addressed. A control approach is introduced for the simultaneous tracking and vibration control of multibody space structures. The application that is discussed is the planned Space Station Freedom configured with solar dynamic modules. The solar dynamic fine-pointing and tracking requirements may necessitate controller frequencies above the structural natural frequencies of space station and the solar dynamic modules themselves. It is well known that this can give rise to control/structure interaction problems if the controller is designed without giving due consideration to the structural dynamics of the system. Possible control/structure interaction problems of Freedom's solar dynamic power systems are investigated. A finite element model of Freedom is used to demonstrate these potential control/structure interaction problems and the proposed tracking and vibration control approach.