Design of a small fast steering mirror for airborne and aerospace applications

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008. === Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-181). === This thesis presents the analysis and design of a small advanced fast steering mirror (sAFSM) for airborne and aerospace platforms. The sAFSM provide...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Boulet, Michael Thomas
Other Authors: David L. Trumper.
Format: Others
Language:English
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45955
Description
Summary:Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008. === Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-181). === This thesis presents the analysis and design of a small advanced fast steering mirror (sAFSM) for airborne and aerospace platforms. The sAFSM provides feedback-controlled articulation of two rotational axes for precision optical pointing. The design, useful for both disturbance rejection and high-speed scanning applications, incorporates a flux steering actuator with a ring core magnetic configuration. The novel magnetic concept enables a dramatic size reduction compared with heritage systems. The moving armature is supported with a combination of elastomer sheets and active position control. Local angular and mirror-normal displacement is sensed with integrated capacitive sensors. Analysis content includes specification of performance requirements based on a realistic deep-space laser communication mission, magnetic equivalent circuit and three-dimensional magnetostatic finite element analysis of the actuator, and a 3D structural optimization of the moving armature modal frequencies. The resulting design is one iteration removed from a flight -ready model. The sAFSM hardware is in fabrication, and anticipated performance exceeds 10 krad/s2 angular acceleration, 10 mrad range, and 9 kHz closed-loop bandwidth. === by Michael Thomas Boulet. === S.M.