Deployable Prototype Testing and Control Allocation of the CABLESSail Concept for Solar Sail Shape Control and Momentum Management

TL;DR

This paper introduces a prototype testing and a novel control allocation algorithm for the CABLESSail solar sail concept, demonstrating effective shape control and momentum management through cable actuation, advancing the technology readiness level.

Contribution

It presents the first small-scale prototype tests and a computationally-efficient control allocation method for the CABLESSail, improving shape control and momentum management capabilities.

Findings

Prototype tests confirm effective cable actuation on deployable booms.

The control algorithm reliably generates desired momentum torques.

Simulation shows robustness to shape uncertainties.

Abstract

This paper presents prototype testing and a control allocation algorithm for the Cable-Actuated Bio-inspired Lightweight Elastic Solar Sail (CABLESSail) concept aimed at performing momentum management of a solar sail. CABLESSail uses actuated cables routed along the structural booms of the solar sail to control the shape of the solar sail and changes the solar radiation pressure disturbance torques acting on it. Small-scale prototype tests of CABLESSail are presented in this paper, which demonstrate the effectiveness of cable actuation on deployable booms. A novel control allocation method is also presented in this paper that provides a computationally-efficient manner to determine the deformations required in each of the structural booms to impart the desired momentum management torque on the solar sail. Numerical simulation results with the proposed algorithm demonstrate robustness to uncertainty in the shape of the sail membrane, resulting in reliable generation of momentum management torques that exceed or meet the capabilities of state-of-the-art solar sail actuators. Both the prototype tests and control allocation methods presented in this paper represent key steps in raising the technology readiness level of the CABLESSail concept.