Vibration suppression of flexible spacecraft using smart materials and path planning during attitude maneuver

This paper presents a novel approach for vibration suppression of spacecraft with flexible appendages during large-angle attitude rapid maneuvers by combining path planning and active vibration control with smart materials. The angular position for attitude maneuver is planned to obtain the path which will not readily excite vibration of flexible appendages. Attitude feedback control is used to track the planned path. Meanwhile, the technique of positive position feedback control using smart materials as sensors/actuators is applied to increase the damping of structure. Consequently, the residual vibrations of the flexible appendages are attenuated greatly and rapidly. Simulation results demonstrate the proposed approach can significantly reduce the vibration of flexible appendages during and after large-angle attitude rapid maneuvers.