Ground-Based Microgravity and Magnetic Simulation Facility for Dynamics and Control of Electrodynamic Tethers in Space

空间电动系绳动力学和控制的地基微重力和磁力模拟设施

• 批准号: RTI-2017-00419
• 负责人: Zhu, ZhengHong
• 金额: $ 10.93万
• 依托单位: York University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=616671
• 关键词: Ground; Based; Microgravity; Magnetic; Simulation

The objective of this experimental program is to design and build a ground testbed to simulate microgravity and magnetic field that an electrodynamic tether (EDT) will experience in space. It consists of a Helmholtz cage hosting a 5-DOF air-bearing spacecraft system. The magnetic field inside the cage is controllable to cancel the local Earth’s magnetic field and generate a time-varying magnetic field to simulate EDTs in space across Earth’s magnetic field. This will allow us to observe the EDT interaction with Earth’s magnetic field and validate EDT stability control strategy/law on Earth. The 5-DOF air-bearing spacecraft system consists of a granite table and a 5-DOF air-bearing spacecraft simulator that carries an EDT. The simulator float on the table that fit inside the Helmholtz cage. The testbed is capable of investigating the electrodynamic behaviors of EDTs and their responses to control actions on Earth. This highly focused experimental program will open up a new window to understand the electromagnetic interaction of EDTs, the dynamics of flexible tether in microgravity and the demanding control problems of these highly nonlinear, multi-physics coupled and under-actuated flexible systems. Due to the prohibitive cost for validation/testing in space, the proposed ground testbed will provide a cost-effective testing facility in an emulated space environment in lab and shed light into the complex problems encountered in the dynamic analysis and control law design. This will allow us to discover some fundamental issues that may be overlooked by existing theories in normal conditions. The electrodynamic tether technology has a great potential in space, for instance, the removal of space debris and the electric solar sail for interplanetary exploration. The proposed equipment will train 11 HQP. All HQP will be trained in multiple facets of technologies relating to electromagnetic interaction, multi-body dynamics and control theory, mechanical design, machining and integration, electronic hardware, wireless communication, software programming, data acquisition and processing, design and implementation of a testing procedure evaluating the performance of the system and development of operational procedures. It will provide a space-like environment to train HQP for the development of satellite payloads and instruments. These hands-on experiences and practical skills will also make HQP more competitive in job market.

该实验项目的目标是设计和建造一个地面测试台，以模拟电动系链（EDT）在太空中所经历的微重力和磁场。它由一个承载五自由度空气轴承磁性航天器系统的亥姆霍兹笼组成。笼内的磁场是可控的，可以抵消当地的地球磁场，并产生一个时变磁场来模拟太空中的 EDT 穿过地球磁场，这将使我们能够观察 EDT 相互作用。与地球磁场并在地球上验证 EDT 稳定性控制策略/定律 该 5 自由度空气轴承航天器系统由一个花岗岩平台和一个承载 EDT 的 5 自由度空气轴承航天器模拟器组成。该测试台能够研究 EDT 的电动力学行为及其对地球控制行为的响应。 EDT 的电磁相互作用、微重力下柔性系绳的动力学以及这些高度非线性、多物理场耦合和欠驱动柔性系统的严格控制问题，由于太空验证/测试的成本高昂，拟议的地面测试台将解决这些问题。在实验室的模拟空间环境中提供具有成本效益的测试设施，并阐明动态分析和控制律设计中遇到的复杂问题，这将使我们能够发现一些在正常情况下可能被现有理论忽视的基本问题。电动系绳技术在太空中具有巨大的潜力，例如，用于星际探索的电动太阳帆和11个HQP将接受与相关技术的多个方面的培训。电磁相互作用、多体动力学和控制理论、机械设计、加工和集成、电子硬件、无线通信、软件编程、数据采集和处理、评估系统性能的测试程序的设计和实施以及操作开发它将提供一个类似太空的环境来培训 HQP 开发卫星有效载荷和仪器，这些实践经验和实践技能也将使 HQP 在就业市场上更具竞争力。