Dynamics and Control in Space. Development of Simultaneous Optimum Design of Structural and Control System of Flexible Space Structure. A Discussion about Selection of Objective Functions.

Abstract

The effect of objective functions on the results of the simultaneous optimum design of structural and control systems is discussed, comparing the optimum designs obtained by minimizing several different types of objective functions. These objective functions are defined as a linear combination of the structural and control objectives. One of them is for structural weight, another is the feedback gain norm and the others are transient characteristic values which are expressed in quadratic form. A flexible cantilever beam resembling a flexible appendage attached to a large space structure is designed in the numerical example. The beam width and the controller location are optimized under initial dynamic disturbance. The results indicate that the usefulness of the simultaneous optimum design of structural and control systems depends on selection of the objective functions.