Flexible pointing systems with smart structures and MEMS

Pointing systems are flexible and inherently difficult to stabilize and control. Performance and assessment analysis must be performed through high fidelity modeling, simulations and experiments to determine the steady-state and dynamic characteristics as well as to devise paradigms to improve overall performance. This can be solved by multidisciplinary research and optimizing the interactions among the beam, mechanical structures, actuators, sensors, and power electronics. Advanced actuators, sensors, ICs, and DSPs are used to achieve objectives and desired specifications. In particular, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can be used as actuators and sensors to guarantee high-accuracy positioning and sensing. Design of pointing system configurations and their control laws are considered. This paper documents the innovative results in high-fidelity modeling, analysis, and control of high-performance direct-drive pointing systems