Applications of vibration reduction of flexible space structure using command shaping technique

This paper presents applications of command shaping techniques to space docking and slewing maneuvers of space vehicles with flexible appendages to eliminate mechanical vibration with large amplitude. The command shaping approach has been evaluated on slowly varying computer model of the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator system. For application of the technique to docking operation the elementary requirement is that the relative velocity of space vehicles be brought to zero. As a second application, the slewing maneuver is accounted for sequential docking maneuvers. The actual time history of the input can be designed to exclude energy at natural frequencies and leave flexible structures unexcited. A discussion of problems with practical application of this technique is prescribed with possible solution methods