Control of a large flexible space structure with moving-bank multiple model adaptive algorithms

The development and performance of moving-bank multiple model adaptive control (MMAC) algorithms for quelling vibrations induced in the SPICE 2 space structure are presented. The structure consists of a large platform and a smaller platform connected by three legs in a tripod fashion. Deviations of the line-of-sight vector from the center of the large platform to the center of the smaller platform are used for linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller performance evaluation. The parameter estimator implements the maximum entropy with an identity covariance (ME/I) algorithm, the moving-bank logic employs parameter position monitoring, and the controller uses the modified MMAC method. Whereas parameter variations of two percent caused instabilities in the single filter/controller design, the MMAC algorithm provides an excellent method to estimate a wide range of parameter variations and to quell oscillations in the structure