Momentum-Exchange-Impact-Damper-Based Shock Response Control for Planetary Exploration Spacecraft

Abstract

Upon landing of a spacecraft, a large shock load can lead to such undesirable responses as rebound, swing vibration, sideslip, and tripover of the spacecraft. This paper discusses the problem of controlling these shock responses by means of momentum exchange impact dampers, especially the active momentum exchange impact damper. The momentum exchange impact dampers are classified into two types: the passive momentum exchange impact damper composed of passive elements and the active momentum exchange impact damper that includes active actuators. The active momentum exchange impact damper can greatly reduce the effects of shock responses. First, landing systems consisting of momentum exchange impact dampers are designed to conduct simulations and modelatwo-leggedsystem.Thepassivemomentumexchangeimpactdampermechanismisaone-degree-of-freedom vibrationsystem.Theactivemomentumexchangeimpactdampermechanismemployselectricalmotorsasactuators inadditiontothepassivemomentumexchangeimpactdampercomponents.Toassesstheeffectivenessofthecontrol system, three cases are simulated: without momentum exchange impact damper, with passive momentum exchange impact damper, and with active momentum exchange impact damper. The results of the simulations show that the active momentum exchange impact damper is most effective in controlling spacecraft landing responses.