Decentralized Interaction Control for Flexible Structures

A control scheme for bringing flexible structures into interaction is developed using an auxiliary interaction control which augments a simple nominal interaction controller. Two types of auxiliary interaction control are theoretically investigated to improve the stability of the interaction, one using open loop modal (OLM) information, the other closed loop modal (CLM) information. The implementation of the nominal interaction control with each method of auxiliary interaction control is investigated on a computer model designed to simulate a simple space station to space shuttle `docking´ maneuver.