Reaction Compensated Steerable Platform Active Load Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active reaction compensated steering mirrors suffer from residual or uncompensated reaction loads due to imperfections and tolerances in the balance and alignment between the steerable platform and the reaction mass, which are difficult to minimize without significant expense.
Innovation Solution
A reaction compensated steerable platform device that includes a base, a steerable platform, and a reaction mass, with primary and secondary actuators and load sensors to actively compensate for exported loads by moving the reaction mass in opposition to the steerable platform, using feedback from load sensors to directly measure and cancel these loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a reaction mass is used to compensate for mirror acceleration loads, then exported reaction loads are reduced, but residual loads remain due to balance and alignment imperfections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs load sensors to measure the actual reaction loads generated by mirror acceleration and feeds this information back to a control system. The control system then actuates secondary actuators to drive the reaction mass in a manner that actively compensates for the measured loads, including residual loads from balance and alignment imperfections. This closed-loop feedback mechanism dynamically adjusts the reaction mass positioning to minimize exported reaction loads despite manufacturing tolerances.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated actuators and sensors are used to actively drive the reaction mass, then phase error with the mirror is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the primary actuators that drive the mirror with the secondary actuators that drive the reaction mass into an integrated system. The load sensors are integrated to measure loads on the support structure, and the control system coordinates both actuator sets to work together. This merging approach reduces overall system complexity compared to having completely separate systems while still achieving low phase error through coordinated control.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the reaction mass is driven to minimize phase error, then exported load is minimized, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial compensation rather than attempting to eliminate all reaction loads. The secondary actuators are designed to compensate for the residual loads that remain after the primary reaction mass compensation, rather than trying to achieve perfect cancellation. This partial action approach achieves sufficient load minimization for practical applications while avoiding the excessive cost of attempting complete elimination of all reaction forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A reaction compensated steerable platform device is disclosed. The reaction compensated steerable platform device can include a base, a steerable platform movably coupled to the base, and a reaction mass movably coupled to the base. The reaction compensated steerable platform device can also include a primary actuator coupled to the steerable platform and the base to cause movement of the steerable platform. The reaction compensated steerable platform device can further include a secondary actuator coupled to the reaction mass and the base to cause movement of the reaction mass. In addition, the reaction compensated steerable platform device can also include a load sensor configured to provide feedback for actuation of the secondary actuator, such that the reaction mass moves to compensate for a load induced on a support structure by the movement of the steerable platform.