Fuzzy logic control for an optical membrane mirror

Very large space based membrane mirror technology is of current interest to NASA, JPL, DOE and the DOD, in particular to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The membrane mirror technology is driven by the expectation of achieving very large optics with lower costs, through reductions in structural mass and volume. Diverse groups are researching and developing membrane technology for RF antennae, optical telescopes, and solar power collection for propulsion applications. A key component for success of membranes used as optical telescopes is the control and maintenance of the accuracy of the membrane mirror surface. This paper gives a description of a computer simulation using fuzzy logic controls on a large optical membrane mirror being researched at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The control of a membrane mirror is a new challenge, which has not previously been addressed. Fuzzy logic was the natural choice for the controller, since there is little correlation between the optical aberrations detected by the wavefront sensor and the membrane mirror surface as the actuators act upon the mirror. The research goal is to develop an autonomous optical figure acquisition and control model for the laboratory membrane mirror.