Decentralized structural acoustic control of a launch vehicle payload fairing

Abstract

The development of smart structures and active noise and vibration control technologies promised to revolutionize the design, construction and, most importantly, the performance of many complex engineering. However, the early promise of these technologies has not been realized in large-scale systems primarily because of the excessive complexity, cost, and weight associated with centralized control systems. Now, recent developments in MEMS sensors and actuators, along with networked embedded processor technology, have opened new research avenues in decentralized controls. Such a control system consists of numerous nodes, possessing limited computational capability, sensors, and actuators. Each of these nodes is also capable of communicating with other nodes via a wired or wireless network. This results in a dramatic shift in the control system paradigm from that of a single, centralized computer to that of numerous decentralized, networked processors. This work describes the application of such a control system to the reduction of structural acoustic radiation in a launch vehicle payload fairing. A JAVA-based simulation tool is employed to simulate the interactions of the physical system with the networked embedded controllers. Results will indicate the potential for such a control system as well as the limitations imposed by the networked embedded processor hardware.