Lockheed Martin Corporation

The Aerospace Corporation

Richard S Jackson

Girard M Manke

A control system stabilizes the flexible body bending modes of a space, airborne, or ground-based system, while providing angular position control of an oscillating mass connected to a counter-oscillating counterbalance. The actuating mechanism uses two drive motors to exert torques on the mass and counterbalance, respectively, under the control of a feedback controller. The controller has a first control channel generating a first torque command signal for the first drive based on the angular position of the mass, and a second control channel generating a second torque command signal for the second drive based on the angular position of the counterbalance and a torque cross-feed signal from the first control channel. The second control channel includes a notch filter for removing input frequencies in a predetermined bandwidth about the frequency of the first torque command signal. The same controller can be used to control the system in oscillation and for large angle repositioning of the mass and counterbalance. The present invention provides a control system for a highly precise and efficient mechanical scanning device suitable for use in a space-based LIDAR system or other similar systems.

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Lakewood, CO, United States of America

Richard S Jackson