Fine surface control of flexible space mirrors using adaptive optics and robust control
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Authors
Burtz, Daniel C.
Subjects
Robust control
adaptive optics
segmented mirrors
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor
space telescopes
H[infinity]
flexible structures
adaptive optics
segmented mirrors
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor
space telescopes
H[infinity]
flexible structures
Advisors
Agrawal, Brij N.
Date of Issue
2009-03
Date
March 2009
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Future space telescopes will contain lightweight, flexible, segmented mirrors. Traditional control approaches for mirror alignment and shape control may be inadequate due to flexibilities and low natural frequencies. Using adaptive optics for space telescopes presents a possible solution. This research proposes innovative H[infinity] robust control techniques for these types of systems. An H[infinity] controller is synthesized for a complex analytical model with 997 inputs, 936 outputs, and 332 states. To accomplish this, a new technique for model reduction using Zernike polynomials was developed. The H[infinity] controller was able to achieve a minimum 15 Hz control bandwidth. The previous integral controller was unable to meet the 10 Hz bandwidth requirement. The H[infinity] design process used was validated on a simpler adaptive optics testbed. The experimental verification also showed that the robust control techniques outperformed the classical control techniques in the presence of disturbances. The significant contributions are a Zernike polynomial method for model reduction, robust controller synthesis for a complex adaptive optics analytical model, and experimental verification on an AO testbed. Although the robust control design is more complex, it provides improved performance in the presence of uncertainty in the disturbances and modeling.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Astronautical Engineering
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv, 99 p. : col. ill. ; 28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.